Artwork at National Trust’s Hardwick Hall altered in anti-trans vandalism

An artwork entitled ‘A Virtuous Woman’, held at National Trust’s Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire has been targeted in anti-trans vandalism. The collaborative piece, which was designed as a ‘visitor engagement research project’ with the University of Leeds and National Trust by artist Layla Khoo, is a dress embroidered with the names of nominated ‘Virtuous Women’. One of the names included on the dress is that of author, J.K. Rowling, known for her vehement anti-trans views, which was deliberately sewn over with rows of pale pink, white and blue stitching, reflecting the colours of the trans flag. At the beginning of June, Jean Hatchet, an anti-trans ‘gender critical’ woman, (alongside @LightninLex) shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that she had unpicked the stitches, vandalising the artwork displayed at Hardwick Hall.

© Layla Khoo

A National Trust spokesperson told Midlands Rainbow: “The artwork was open to contributions for eight months. It closed to new contributions in November and the finished artwork was put on public display. We ask visitors not to tamper with any art on display at places in our care.

"We’re currently reviewing the situation and not yet in a position to confirm next steps.”

Layla’s artwork was inspired by Bess of Hardwick's lost ‘Ancient Noblewomen Embroideries’, “reflecting the spirit of the originals while capturing modern views of virtues and the women and girls who embody them now,” explains Layla.

The names featured include historical and modern public figures, fictional characters, and women known only to those who nominated them. The names represent the diversity of visitors, their values, and beliefs and include figures such as; Marsha P. Johnson, Ann Lister, Rosa Parks, Mary Somerville, Dame Judy Dench, Taylor Swift, Mary Seacole, Maggie Smith and many more, as well as fictional women including; Wednesday Addams and the Greek goddess, Artemis.

Many of the names on the dress’ panels are repeated, including Rowling’s name which actually appears several times, including the one instance where it was crossed through with the trans flag-coloured stitches.

Hardwick Hall, where ‘A Virtuous Woman’ is currently on display, is an Elizabethan country house created by Elizbeth Hardwick in the 1500s. She rose to a position of great power within Elizabethan society, became the Countess of Shrewsbury and was known to many simply as ‘Bess of Hardwick’.

Abigail Harrison Moore, Professor of Art History and Museum Studies at the University of Leeds and one of Layla’s PhD supervisors, said: “Layla decided to research participatory art practice having had an incredibly successful career as an artist working in heritage spaces enabling visitors to think differently about history and the environment.

“We are delighted to be working with her to explore the impact of her work at Hardwick Hall – A Virtuous Woman is an incredibly exciting project. As someone who has taught feminist approaches to architectural history for over 30 years at the University of Leeds, I'm delighted that Layla's work is asking visitors to think about images of women in a house that speaks to the historic power of women.”