The Pearls are a collective of twenty women painters from across the North of England. Brought together through a shared commitment and interest in the critical discourse in contemporary painting.

Formed through dialogue and mutual support, the group reflects the vitality of women’s painting in the North today: intellectually alert, emotionally resonant, and rooted in lived experience. Each artist brings an individual visual vocabulary of mark, colour, and form, yet their works and experiences speak to one another—quietly and powerfully—about connection, visibility, and endurance.

Exhibiting together at The Manchester Contemporary for the first time, The Pearls present painting as a site of inquiry and solidarity: a space where thought, feeling, and form coalesce, and where collective presence amplifies individual voice in contemporary painting.

With special thanks to The Birley Studios and Project Space, Preston for their continued support and encouragement. Also to Arts Council England, Lancashire Sports and Culture Fund and SpaceHive contributers