A sculpture has been unveiled that celebrates the lives of inspirational women who have contributed to the city of Leeds.
The Ribbons sculpture has been created by Pippa Hale, a contemporary artist based in Leeds, whose practice centres around social history, geography and play. The sculpture champions the achievements of women past and present, including many associated with the University of Leeds.
Ribbons is located at the gateway to the SOYO development at Quarry Hill between Leeds City College’s Quarry Hill campus and Leeds Playhouse.
The women are represented on the sculpture by their first and last names, with no titles.
The project was developed by local MP and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves and led by Leeds Arts University in partnership with Leeds City Council and Leeds City College.
Following a public appeal for nominations just before the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 600 were received. Multiple nominations for some women meant a total of 383 were put forward. Women nominated must have lived or worked in Leeds city boundaries for at least one year.
The names on the sculpture with connections to the University of Leeds include:
Corinne Bailey Rae
The singer songwriter, who studied English Literature at the University from 1997 until 2000, became the fourth female British act in history to have her first album debut at number one in 2006. She went on to be nominated for three Grammy awards and won two MONO awards.
Brodie Bannister (Campbell)
Brodie was the Student Wellbeing Leader at the University and became the Youth Development Lead for the Prince’s Trust in Leeds.
Louise Bryant
The Chartered Psychologist is a Professor of Psychological and Social Medicine at the University and is Deputy Dean for the Faculty of Medicine and Health, as well as the lead for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. She also holds leadership roles for the NHS.
Jen Dyer
Dr Jen Dyer recently departed her role as Associate Professor in Sustainability at the University to focus on her work with Nifty Sustainability, a community interest company supporting people to create meaningful change for the benefit of people and the planet. She is an active volunteer and ambassador for International Mixed Ability Sports (IMAS).
Rebecca Hardy
The GP studied medicine at the University before living and working in the city and then opening her own practice in Halifax where she has been part of the community for more than 30 years.
Patricia Farrell
A former lecturer at the University of Leeds, Patricia has been a magistrate for more than 40 years and has worked towards fighting knife crime including being involved in the Stephen Lawrence enquiry.
Lauren Huxley
The former Union Affairs Officer at the University was responsible for governance, finance and democracy in one of the largest students’ unions in the UK. She now works at the University, supporting under-represented students, particularly mature students. She also volunteers as a trustee for multiple charities.
Sarah Lloyd
Masters student Sarah delivers knife crime awareness throughout the country after losing her son to knife crime. She is also author of Life without Kie, a memoir of her traumatic grief following the fatal stabbing.
Alison Lowe
Alison, who holds an MA in Medieval Studies and a BA in History from the University, was given an Honorary Doctor of Laws in 2022. She was recently appointed Deputy Mayor for Police and Crime in West Yorkshire by Mayor Tracy Brabin, following her extensive experience in the voluntary sector, in local government and with policing.
Ciara Masterson
Dr Ciara Masterson is the Academic Director of the Clinical Psychology Programme at the University. Her previous roles for the NHS involved working with adult mental health and physical health services.
Hazel Mooney
As an environmental scientist at the University, Hazel has dedicated her spare time to raising awareness of the importance of trees. In 2023 she was awarded the UK Green Gown Award ‘Sustainability Champion’ to recognise her engagement with young people on sustainability issues.
Abigail Harrison Moore
Abigail is Professor of Art History and Museum Studies at the University and was Head of the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies until August 2019. She focuses on art and design history and co-leads an international project in histories of energy.
Lucy Moore
Lucy was Project Curator at Leeds Museums & Galleries from 2013 – 2023 and co-ordinated activities across the city’s nine museums to commemorate anniversaries of the people of Leeds in the First World War. Lucy is Curator of Coins and 3D objects at the University of Leeds and is a trustee of the Leeds Civic Trust, Carers Leeds and the Royal Numismatic Society.
Anne Neville
Anne Neville OBE, Professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering, was the first woman to win the Institute of Mechanical Engineering’s James Clayton Prize and the first female winner of the Royal Society’s Leverhulme Medal. She was awarded an OBE for services to engineering.
Julia Newton-Bishop
Julia is a Professor of Dermatology at St James’ Hospital and has led research into melanoma in the University since 1995. She played a key role in establishing UK and European clinical guidelines and has set up and chaired the international melanoma genetics consortium GenoMEL since 1997.
Yvette Oade
Dr Yvette Oade CBE is the Chair of Leeds Hospitals Charity, a Lay Council Member for the University, where she completed her degree in Medicine, and a Trustee of Yorkshire Cancer Research. She was the Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Executive for Leeds Teaching Hospitals for seven years before becoming Medical Director at the Nightingale Hospital for Yorkshire and Humber and a Regional Medical Director for NHS England.
Gill Park
Gill, lecturer in Contemporary Art and Curating at the University, is developing a new project with Dr Sylvia Gyan at the University of Ghana to focus on the experiences of women head porters in Accra. She previously initiated Art School for Rebel Girls and an artistic collaboration with Voice of Domestic Workers.
Griselda Pollock
Griselda is Professor of Social and Critical Histories of art at the University. She describes herself as a feminist art historian and cultural analyst of international, postcolonial feminist studies in the visual arts and visual culture.
Vibi Rothnie
Vibie Rothnie is the Manager of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Transcription Service with Leeds Disability Services at the University, helping many students reach their full potential.
Ingrid Sharp
Our Professor of German Cultural and Gender History is an expert in the First World War, Peace history, the women’s movement and women activists.
Margaret Storm Jameson
The journalist and author was known as Storm Jameson. She was a socialist and an active member of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies. She studied English Literature at the University and graduated with a First in 1912.
Gemma Turner
Disability advocate Gemma won the Diversity in Media Awards ‘Blogger of the Year’ in 2017. She is a University of Leeds New Media graduate and former Equality and Diversity Officer at Leeds University Union.
Farhat Yaqoob
Farhat was the Muslim Chaplain at the University for a decade and is one of the founders of the ‘Unity Events’ initiative on campus. Her consistent aim was to unite people around their similarities regardless of culture, religion and interests.
Further information
The project is supported by LeedsBID, Caddick Developments, Leeds Civic Trust, the Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation, the Henry Moore Foundation and the Leeds Playhouse.
For more information, please contact the University of Leeds press office at pressoffice@leeds.ac.uk