“Arrested for Equality: An Ode to the Suffragettes” (2017) is an oil painting inspired by the more than 1,000 suffragettes who were arrested while fighting for women’s right to vote. Created as a tribute to the courage, resilience, and sacrifices of these women, the work draws from historical photographs documenting suffragettes being detained during protests and demonstrations throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. From the first women’s rights convention in 1848 through the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in the United States in 1920, and the achievement of equal voting rights for women in the United Kingdom in 1928, countless women organized petitions, lobbied lawmakers, marched in the streets, endured imprisonment, and participated in hunger strikes in pursuit of political equality. Many historical images of these arrests reveal the harsh treatment activists faced, often showing women being forcibly restrained and removed by police.
The painting was also inspired by the influence of British suffrage leaders, including Emmeline Pankhurst, whose activism helped shape the broader international suffrage movement. Historians have noted the powerful exchange of ideas and strategies between British and American suffragists, creating an Anglo-American model of activism that contributed to advancing women’s voting rights around the world. Through Arrested for Equality, I seek to honor the women whose determination and sacrifice helped transform society and expand democratic participation. Their struggle remains a powerful reminder that progress is often achieved through collective action, persistence, and the willingness to challenge injustice.
The painting “Arrested for Equality: An Ode to the Suffragettes” has been featured in publications including VICE, WWD, Curated by Girls, Cool America Magazine, and GirlTalkHQ, among numerous other international media outlets.