"Her Legacy Lives Here" - is a multidisciplinary project inspired by the Birmingham Suffragette movement - by the courage, vision and determination of the women whose public actions helped drive the fight for women’s enfranchisement. Their efforts not only shaped the world we know today; they forged a path toward greater gender equality. The project is also guided by the wisdom, activism and lived experiences of women in Birmingham today - women whose work continues to illuminate, safeguard and share the stories and legacies of those who came before them.
Birmingham, including Handsworth, played a pivotal role in the national movement for women’s suffrage. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Handsworth’s growing middle-class and educated communities became centres for women’s meetings, suffrage talks, grassroots organising and, at times, militant campaigning.
Marta’s work on Her Legacy Lives Here is a deeply personal tribute to women: to those who laid the foundations for our freedoms, and to those who continue shaping our present. Having the support to bring this vision to life - through funding, dedicated research and development time, and belief in the project - has ensured these stories are honoured, recognised and carried forward. This work has been made possible with the support of Legacy WM, Birmingham City Council and the Cultural Action Area.
The layers and textures within the work symbolise the obstacles women continue to face throughout life. The journey is rarely smooth, yet it is not a story of victimhood. Instead, it speaks to resilience - to women rising, achieving, supporting one another and moving forward with quiet strength and determination. It serves as a reminder of our shared history, our independence, our collective power, and the knowledge we carry forward - not to defend our worth, but to access the opportunities historically afforded only to men.
Portraits / Animation / Poster Design: Marta Kochanek
