Murray Edwards College's Free Women's Art Collection Showcases Hambling, Rego, Riley

Murray Edwards College in Cambridge is home to the Women's Art Collection, a permanent display of modern and contemporary art by female artists that is free and open to the public year-round. The collection features work by Maggi Hambling, Paula Rego, Bridget Riley, Tracey Emin, the Guerrilla Girls, and Rose Wylie, among others. Harriet Loffler, the collection's director, notes that visitors are welcome to use the lawn freely. The gallery distinguishes itself from typical Cambridge college venues, which often display 'Closed to visitors' signs. In the porter's lodge, two Tracey Emin lithographs are visible; the cafe displays a Guerrilla Girls screen print and a canvas by Rose Wylie; additional works are installed in corridors and rooms. The collection spans art from the last 40 years and is described as one of Cambridge's best-kept secrets. The source article, published by The Guardian on September 17, 2026, highlights the accessibility and quality of the collection, contrasting it with expensive museum shows and intimidating commercial galleries.