• From 22 November 2025, Saatchi Gallery will present the highly anticipated second edition of Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, featuring 10 contemporary Dutch female artists in collaboration with the V&A.
• Ground-breaking partnership with the V&A sees contemporary Dutch artists responding to works by female creators from the museum’s historic collection.
• Following the success of the first edition, which ran from March to May 2024, this expanded exhibition includes a deeper exploration of female artistic heritage.

LONDON, UK – Saatchi Gallery, in collaboration with artist-curator Louise te Poele, V&A, SMAG Foundation, and the Netherlands Embassy in the UK, is proud to present Standing on the Shoulders of Giants II: A Unique Dialogue Between Past and Present.

Research by the Guerrilla Girls revealed that less than 5% of artists in museums are women, while 85% of depicted nudes are female. Standing on the Shoulders of Giants II directly confronts this inequality by elevating female voices and creating new narratives.

Building on the immense success of the first edition, which highlighted the urgent need to increase visibility for female Dutch artists, this second iteration tackles a related challenge: the historical invisibility of female artists in museum collections. The exhibition examines whose shoulders contemporary artists stand on in this country, fostering a powerful dialogue between the past and present.

Both contemporary and historical female artists have long faced limited visibility. The V&A collection has a strength in works created by women and shares a dedication to addressing historical underrepresentation, making the collaboration particularly meaningful, as both institutions aim to elevate female voices across the centuries. 

This unique exhibition showcases an unprecedented collaboration between Saatchi Gallery and the V&A. Working alongside Dr Rosalind McKever (Curator) and Damiët Schneeweisz (Assistant Curator) of Paintings and Drawings at the V&A, Louise te Poele and the artists have selected from the V&A’s collection of paintings and drawings by women.

Each of the 10 Dutch female artists responded to a carefully selected piece from the V&A collection, creating influential new works that foster visual dialogues with female creators who preceded them. By visiting the V&A archives, the artists immersed themselves in the museum’s collection, enabling their chosen historical works to inform their contemporary responses through deep engagement. 

Damiët Schneeweisz, Assistant Curator of Paintings and Drawings at the V&A states: “It’s been wonderful seeing the V&A’s mission as a creative sourcebook for makers in action, and to witness the dialogues emerging between our historic works on paper collections, which are rich in women artists, and the work of present-day artists.”

Louise te Poele, Artist-Curator reflects: “There’s something deeply moving about how my fellow female artists respond to the voices of women before them — echoing, challenging, and continuing their legacy in ways that feel both intimate and radical.”

Featured Artists

The exhibition showcases 10 contemporary Dutch female artists, spanning multiple generations and mediums.

Painting: Lily de Bont (1958), Anya Janssen (1962), Bobbi Essers (2000)

Sculpture: Femmy Otten (1981), Bregje Sliepenbeek (1986), Margriet van Breevoort (1990), Larissa Esvelt (1998)

Digital sculpture and object design: Audrey Large (1994)

Photography and installation: Louise te Poele (1984)

Expanded Programming with the V&A

During the exhibition run, the V&A will present a programme of talks and tours designed to deepen engagement with the themes of female artistic heritage. It aims to create ongoing dialogue between the exhibitions at both venues and offer the audience multiple entry points into understanding the complex narratives of female artistic expression across centuries.  

Exhibition Partners

The project represents a collaboration between Saatchi Gallery, SMAG Foundation (Louise te Poele and Hanna ter Meulen), the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Netherlands Embassy in the UK, which has offered invaluable support in realising the show’s production and facilitating the Artists’ visits to the archives. 

Alongside our primary partners, the Netherlands Embassy in the UK and Sorba Projects, we wish to thank them and our other funding partners for their invaluable support. 

Documentary Component

A short behind-the-scenes documentary will capture the creative process, demonstrating how new work has been created in response to historical pieces, adding depth and context to the exhibition experience.

— ENDS —

NOTES TO EDITORS

For all press enquiries, please contact:

Niamh Elain, Press & Marketing Executive: [email protected]  

Amelia Okell, Head of Communications: [email protected]  

Dates and Opening Hours

Open to the public: 20 November 2025 – 12 January 2026

Hours: 10 AM – 6 PM (last admission 5.30 PM)

Admission to this exhibition is free, with a suggested donation of £3.

Images

Press images can be obtained via our press page: www.saatchigallery.com/press 

By using the images, you acknowledge and accept the terms and conditions found on our website. These images can only be reproduced to illustrate a review or criticism of a work or report as defined by section 30 (i) and (ii) of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Social Media

Join the discussion about the exhibition online:

Instagram: @saatchi_gallery & @standing_on_shoulders

TikTok, Twitter: @saatchi_gallery

Facebook: @saatchigalleryofficial

Online: https://sotsog.nl

School Visits & Community Groups

With the generous support of all our patrons, there are opportunities for students and community groups to engage in creative projects and workshops. Visit saatchigallery.com/learning or call +44 (0) 20 7811 3087 for more information.

ABOUT SAATCHI GALLERY

Since 1985, Saatchi Gallery has provided an innovative platform for contemporary art. Exhibitions have presented works by largely unseen young artists, or by international artists whose work has been rarely or never exhibited in the UK. This approach has made the Gallery one of the most recognised names in contemporary art. Since moving to its current 70,000 square feet space in the Duke of York’s Headquarters in Chelsea, London, the Gallery has welcomed over 10 million visitors. The Gallery hosts thousands of school visits annually and has over 6 million followers on social media. In 2019, Saatchi Gallery became a registered charity, beginning a new chapter in its history. www.saatchigallery.com

Registered Charity Number: 1182328

Address: Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Rd, Chelsea, London SW3 4RY

[email protected] | +44 (0) 20 7811 3091