Women on The Frontlines | Elizabeth Okoh

In March 2020, life as we knew it came to a jolting halt. As the country went into lockdown, two things became clear: preventative action to stop the spread of COVID-19 was a little too late and no one knew how long we’d remain in lockdown. But amidst the crisis that we were all thrust into, there remained a segment of society that had to keep going, heading out to work every day to keep the country moving.

Women on The Frontlines is a celebration of the unsung heroines of the pandemic. Bringing together ten women who worked in essential industries ranging from the NHS to postal services, it explores their mental, emotional, and physical realities during this period. In what was a forlorn and traumatic time for many, these women went out every day and did their jobs – despite the risks, pressures and overwhelm. And, in the case of most of the women you’ll learn about in this exhibition, were barely acknowledged for the part they played.

It’s been four years since the first national lockdown, and COVID-19 remains one of the most significant global events of our time – The Marker of a Generation, as coined by Elizabeth Okoh, Artist and Creator of Women on the Frontlines.

This exhibition invites us to pay reverence to these women and many like them around the country – while they’re alive – who significantly contributed to society during the pandemic; and to learn from their experiences for the future.

#GiveThemTheirFlowers

THE EXHIBITION

Duration: 2 – 31 March, 2024

Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Location: Buckle Street Studios by Locke, 21 Buckle St, London E1 8DB

Admission: Free and open to all

Sponsors: Okoh’s Boudoir and Buckle Street Studios by Locke

PANEL TALK AND GUIDED TOUR

Being a Woman on The Frontlines Panel Discussion and Guided Tour

Wednesday 6 March, 6.30 PM – 9 PM

Creative Coach, Yasmine Patpatia, will host an interactive discussion with Margaret Davis, Embalming Practitioner, Kasia Nwansi, former ITU staff Nurse, and Natasha Watson, Bus Driver. They will discuss their career paths as modern women working in essential industries, as well as their mental health and life experiences. A guided tour of the exhibition will follow this panel discussion.

PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERCLASS

The Business of Photography Masterclass

Wednesday 20 March, 7 PM – 8.30 PM

Book your tickets on Eventbrite

In this masterclass, I will share my invaluable knowledge in growing a six-figure business to live a fulfilled life and to fund social impact projects. Topics of the day will include how to efficiently calculate your cost of doing business, creating for profit, IPS, and building business relationships and partnerships.

THE FRONTLINE WOMEN

Anila Arshad-Mehmood, Head of Student Services, Education

Esther Oghenekaro, Welfare Adviser, NHS

Hannah Carroll, Postperson, Royal Mail

Hannah Martin, Deputy Team Leader, Financial Services

Kasia Nwansi, ITU staff Nurse, NHS

Makeda Blake, Registered Nurse, NHS

Margaret Davis, Embalming Practitioner, Funeral Service

Monique Peynado, Train Driver, Transport

Natasha Watson, Bus Driver, Transport

Sheryl Ibbotson, Police Constable, Emergency Response Policing

THE CREATIVE TEAM