Following the success of Standing on the Shoulders of Giants (SOTSOG) I—an exhibition showcasing ten Dutch female artists at the Saatchi Gallery, supported by the Dutch Embassy in the UK, the Mondriaan Fund, and the Vrouwen door Vrouwen Fund—artist and initiator Louise te Poele, together with the SOTSOG team consisting of Lotte Rosier and Hanna ter Meulen, has been invited to take the project further. This time, in collaboration with London’s prestigious V&A Museum.
Together with curators Dr. Rosalind McKever and Damiët Schneeweisz from the museum’s Paintings and Drawings department, the SOTSOG team is developing a groundbreaking exhibition concept. Historical works by female creators from the V&A collection will be paired with newly commissioned pieces by contemporary Dutch artists. Each new work will directly respond to a selected historical piece—creating a rich dialogue between past and present.
Participating Artists
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Lily de Bont
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Bobbi Essers
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Larissa Esvelt
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Audery Large
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Anya Janssen
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Louise te Poele
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Femmy Otten
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Saar Scheerlings
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Bregje Sliepenbeek
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Margriet van Breevoort
Last week, all participating artists were introduced during a special event at the Dutch Embassy in London, where they presented themselves to the attending press and invited guests. The following day, the group embarked on a focused research session in the Prints and Drawings Study Room at the V&A, diving into the museum’s collection to begin shaping their individual responses.
The exhibition opens November 2025 at the Saatchi Gallery and runs through January 2026. In parallel, a public programme will be developed in close collaboration with the V&A Museum to deepen engagement and spark critical
conversations around visibility, representation, and the role of women in the arts.
“SOTSOG exists because women remain underrepresented in the art world. Through this project, we aim to create space, visibility, and momentum—by and for women,” says Louise te Poele.
SOTSOG II marks the evolution of a platform that celebrates artistic legacy and reinvention. It offers not only a space for reflection, but for rewriting the narrative—with women supporting women at its core.
Photo by Paul Winstone/Fabuk