Large-Scale Photography Exhibition Opens in Bradford City Centre

New outdoor installation displays portraits of Yorkshire women

A large-scale outdoor photography exhibition titled Hardy and Free by artist and portrait photographer Carolyn Mendelsohn has opened on the outer wall of Kirkgate Shopping Centre in Bradford. The installation features twelve portraits of women from Yorkshire and explores their connection to the natural landscape of the region. The exhibition launched on 16 October 2025 and is part of Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture.

Exhibition details and background

Hardy and Free was originally commissioned by the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth in 2023 and has been expanded for this Bradford 2025 commission. The series draws inspiration from the Brontë sisters’ relationship with the Yorkshire landscape, particularly around their home in Haworth.

The portraits depict a diverse group of women including farmers, artists, swimmers, athletes, adventurers, activists, and others who either work on the land or find freedom and inspiration in the natural environment. Mendelsohn travelled with each subject to a location where they felt “hardy and free,” capturing their portraits in these meaningful settings.

Interactive element and stories

Alongside the portraits, visitors can listen to audio recordings of the women sharing their personal stories, which include themes of physical achievement, social challenges, love, loss, and hope. These recordings are accessible by scanning QR codes displayed as part of the installation.

Featured women and locations

• Swimming Au Naturel group (ages 35-78) at locations around Otley, including Claire Buckler, Hannah Butler, Jude Caldwell, and others
• Meryl Clarke, Flower Farmer at Yorkshire Flower Farm
• Rachel Coates, Farmer at Low Springs Farm, Baildon
• Kemmi Gill, Youth Worker and Musician at Goitstock Waterfall
• Aina J Khan, Journalist at Harden Grange Folly
• Alice Parsons, Producer and Curator at Grassington Moor
• Ann Durham, Expedition Leader on moorland above Cononley
• Alice Nutter, Screen Writer at Sykes Wood
• Furaha Mussanzi, Musician at Peel Park
• BD3 Mela Kalay, Somatic Movement Practitioner and DJ at Calverley Woods
• Nabeela Ahmed, Poet and Writer at a secret location near St Ives, Bingley
• Norah McWilliam, Runner, Campaigner and Adventurer at Thornton Moor

About the artist

Carolyn Mendelsohn is an artist and portrait photographer whose work focuses on storytelling through collaborative portraits. Her work has been exhibited internationally and featured in publications such as the BBC, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, and The Telegraph. She holds roles including Artist in Residence for Born in Bradford and Ambassador for Nikon Europe and the Royal Photographic Society.

The exhibition remains on display on Kirkgate Shopping Centre’s outer wall, opposite Darley Street Market, offering residents and visitors an opportunity to engage with the personal stories and landscapes of Yorkshire women.

Source: Bradford 2025 press release