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Powerhouse featuring Chinwe Russell’s 20 Historical Women Who Changed the World

Yellow background with the word power in red on it and the word house in black underneath. In between is written celebrating women's portraiture at Knole.
Powerhouse logo | © National Trust

In 2026, Knole is collaborating with artist Chinwe Russell to celebrate stories of incredible women from around the world. 'Powerhouse' featuring Chinwe Russell’s 20 Historical Women Who Changed the World showcases 20 of Chinwe's portraits in the historic spaces at Knole.

‘20 Historical Women Who Changed the World’ is a touring exhibition created by Chinwe Russell, a Nigerian-born British artist. The exhibition is a bold, colourful and historically inspired body of work that gives an insight into the lives of some incredible women. The collection contains both modern and historical figures whose work and influence have shaped our daily lives. One of the great things about this series is that it’s both women we’ve likely all heard of alongside some who are lesser known.

A close up photo, in black and white, of a smiling person standing next to a painting of a house.
Artist Chinwe Russell | © Chinwe Russell

Throughout the showrooms, some of Chinwe’s paintings will be paired with Knole’s own, drawing on some interesting thematic parallels between the women in the portraits. Some of the amazing women that have lived at Knole and shaped it into the place it is today will be highlighted through the portraiture in Knole’s collection. Chinwe’s bright, contemporary style will be a contrast to these more traditional portraits.

The exhibition opens with Queen Elizabeth I, which is the only pairing to feature the same woman. Knole’s ribbon painting will be displayed in the hall next to Chinwe’s bold reimagining of Queen Elizabeth’s armada portrait.

Other pairings in the showrooms include:

  • Chinwe's portrait of architect Zaha Hadid (1950-2016) with Arabella Cope, Duchess of Dorset (1769-1825) who was an astute businesswoman and played a key role in expanding the buildings at Knole.
  • A portrait of Marie Stopes (1880-1958), a campaigner for women’s rights with Lady Elizabeth “Betty” Berkeley, Lady Germain (1680-1769), who was a philanthropist as well as being instrumental in the establishment of the Foundling Hospital.

A painting of a woman in a red cloak holding a globe on a stake in front of her. She has red hair. There are two ships on a blue sea behind her.
Elizabeth I by Chinwe Russell | © Chinwe Russell

Exclusively for Knole, Chinwe has created a new painting of La Baccelli, a celebrated Italian ballerina and mistress of the 3rd Duke of Dorset, John Frederick Sackville. A voluptuous plaster statue of her naked reclining form sits at the bottom of the Great Stairs, and Chinwe’s painting will sit alongside this. Chinwe has chosen to present La Baccelli in her role as a ballet dancer, the occupation that brought her fame, and to the notice of John Frederick Sackville.

Life size off-white plaster sculpture of Giovanna Zanerini, 'La Baccelli' the dancer and mistress of the 3rd Duke of Dorset, reclining on drapery at Knole in Kent.
Plaster sculpture of Giovanna Zanerini, 'La Baccelli' at Knole, Kent | © National Trust Images/Jane Mucklow

The rest of Chinwe’s portraits from this series will be displayed in the Orangery. These include:

  • Gods of Africa: 'Asase Yaa', the mother earth of Ghana, and 'ALA', the mother earth of the Igbo tribe of Eastern Nigeria
  • Barbara Castle (1910-2002), politiciian
  • Rosalind Franklin (1920-1958), chemist
  • Ada Lovelace (1815−1852), mathematician and writer
  • Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), social reformer, statistician and the founder of modern nursing
  • Rosa Parks (1913-2005), civil rights activist

A painting of a women in a black dress on a blue and yellow background standing behind a bus. She is holding a sign that says I am a person. There are other signs on the painting around her.
Rosa Parks by Chinwe Russell | © Chinwe Russell

To find out more about the exhibition and planning your visit to Knole, please go to: Powerhouse featuring Chinwe Russell’s 20 Historical Women Who Changed the World

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Knole’s portrait collection 

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History of Knole 

Knole is full of treasures and was designed to impress its visitors. Originally an archbishop’s palace, then Royal residence, now home to the Sackville family for over 400 years.

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Explore the showrooms at Knole 

Knole was built to impress. Come and explore the grandeur of its showrooms, the hidden secrets of the attics and the rooms Eddy Sackville-West called home in the Gatehouse Tower.

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