Why these London artists are putting a visual spin on International Women's Day

Twelve local artists have banded together to curate an art exhibit highlighting the experiences of everyday women and their stories in honour of International Women's Day.

The showcase, "Her Life, Her Art" has been on display at Innovation Works in downtown London since Monday, inspired by the artists' personal journeys and their unique cultural identities.

"Women's imprint in the world hasn't always been the loudest, but that subtle background movement actually has created a lot of what we experience in creativity, beauty and thriving," said artist Kim Totten.

"When someone comes here, I want them to be able to see all the subtle ways and bold ways that women have shown up in the world."

The exhibit features artwork created through a wide range of mediums, including painting, photography, sculpture, pyrography, mixed media and others.

For many artists, it was a chance to express their emotions about the complexities and ongoing conflicts around the world. Adora Vali, an Iranian Londoner, tried to capture the pain her community is feeling amid the ongoing war in Iran.

"All of my artworks here are reflected by those emotions," said Vali. "I try not to get affected politically, but emotionally, I know there are so many women [in Iran] and around the world who are in so much pain and stress with the uncertainty."

Vali said she draws inspiration from her Persian culture and miniature drawings for the wood burnings and carvings she uses to make little lifelike characters. She hopes the exhibit can encourage more people to see the world through a woman's perspective, she said.

"When you come here to the show, you see different stories, different lives and artistic practices, and different backgrounds. And I believe that women everywhere should have a chance to freely talk about their emotions and express who they are," said Vali.

For Ukrainian artist Lena Troy, 23, art and photography are ways to cope with feelings of helplessness and the distance between her and her loved ones back home. Troy's work is influenced by the various roles women have been playing throughout Russia's war on Ukraine.

One of her favourite pieces is of a woman wearing a traditional Ukrainian crown and holding weapons. Although she fought and died in the war, her dream for freedom lives on, said Troy.

"Sometimes when you're spiraling, it's overwhelming to feel so much, but when you paint it, in a sense you detach yourself from it because you're expressing these emotions and sort of letting go," she said.

While her piece is getting lots of traction from spectators, Troy warns it's incomplete. She plans to create a second piece after the war ends, which she said will "give life to freedom."

Amsa Yaro chose to focus on the everyday simplicities of women. Her pieces were made of recycled products such as cardboard with lots of clay, wires and resin.