For the first time in 10 years, Tate Britain will be rehanging its permanent collection and for the first time ever, half the featured contemporary artists will be women.

Although this curation won't be ready to view until May 2023 we thought this is a great place to start our appreciation for the artists that we truly admire as approach International Women's Day.

Looking ahead of IWD, be sure not to miss the selection of artworks by women that continue to shape the contemporary art landscape that we have put together.

By approaching taboo subjects with honesty, the artist dispels some of the stigma around issues often left undiscussed. And, by refusing to bow to critics, Emin shows she has nothing to apologise for – a position which empowers those with similar lived experiences.

From the beginning of Lebourgeois' career, her work has been "unconsciously feminist" and has developed a visual language that explores the nuances and stereotypes of representing women. There is strength, humour and an abundance of storytelling in her illustrations.

One artist that is changing the art landscape is Mickalene Thomas. A highlight from 2022, was Women Painting Women, an exhibition at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth where Thomas creates work through the lens of a queer black woman.

She makes rhinestone-adorned collage paintings and engaging video installations and cites one of her goals as “removing the Black female from stereotypes of servitude and overtly sexualized positions”.

Her infamous ceramic works blend reality with fantasy to create intricate still-life sculptures. Subverting the still-life genre with her playful talismans, she often forms overflowing ashtrays or elaborate plates of food that elicit familiar moments felt in the everyday.

In 1973, she clearly set out her belief that art and gender should not be linked in her essay The Hermaphrodite, published in Art News. In it, she referred to gender as a “red herring” unrelated to the creative process which, she explained, should be solely focused on “how to start, lead and sustain a creative life”. Because of this philosophy, Riley believed that the label of ‘woman artist’ was unhelpful and distracting, explaining;

Adored by other artists including Patrick Hughes, The Connor Brothers and Banksy, Nancy Fouts, who passed away in 2019, was known for her wicked sense of humour and her incredible parties. But this magnetic woman had a serious side, executing her surreal sculptures with a perfectionism that became a hallmark of her work.

Known for her large-scale installations and intricate portrait pieces which bridge boundaries between the street and gallery, Swoon is an all-around creator with a social consciousness.

It’s this pioneering work, coupled with her relentless campaigning on climate change and social crises that puts her at the forefront of International Women's Day.