What Does International Women’s Day Mean to Me?

Suzanne brings together a group of inspiring, courageous and often outspoken cis and trans women and gender diverse people to create a visual snapshot of the fierce, funny and extraordinary people who inspire her world. 2025 is the 14th year of the series which now holds nearly 200 subjects. All the portraits and videos of the events, exhibitions and street paste up’s since 2012 are below.

The subjects for IWD2025 are: Amy Middleton, Apollonia, Athina Uh oh, Beź Zewdie, Camilla McKewen, Casey Donovan, Delfi Sorondo, Emilee South, Frankie Mazzone, Georgia Knight, Ginger Light, Grace Cummings, Isobel Buckley, Karen Pickering, Kerri Simpson, Lauren Hester, Michelle Trebilco, MzRizk, Romy Vager, Sarah Blaby, Sherele Moody, Ursula Dutkiewicz, Zec Zechner.

Pre-orders of the IWD2025 book are available here. Sponsors for 2025 are Ross Coller, Ian Bickerstaff, Mike Kendall, Nicolette Powell, Carmel Tulloch, Deb Lord, Elise McLellan, Marilyn Hogben, Mel Scott, Nadine Amy, Peter Cahill, Sean Jameson, Stephen Andrew, Susan Lloyd-Angol, Belinda Rogers, Ece Caliskan, Ellen Kessler, Helen Pinchen, Jean-Luc Syndikas, Lorraine Ellis, Maggie Powell, Mandy Corcoran, Mark Ireland, Melissa Williams, Patty Holten, Sarah Chappell, Tanya McCulloch and Ursula Dutkiewicz.

There is an IWD playlist with all the muso’s in this series too here.

IWD2024

Here is the list of magnificent people in the 2024 series: Anji Greenwood, Anna Piper Scott, Anne Davies, Antonia Hickey, Becky Burke, Belinda Rogers, Brooke Wandin, Cash Savage, Chanelle Rogers, Charlie Goldberg, Eloise Thetford / Queenie, Grace Gibson, Heather Davies, Isabel Davies, Jacqui Wandin, Jen Cloher, Kate McGuire, Kitty Obsidian, Lilith Lane, Mina Cannon, MzRizk, Nitida Atkinson, Phoebe Baker / Sappho, Renata Fillipi, Simona Castricum, Sosefina Fuamoli and Tori Zietsch / Maple Glider.

Bakehouse Studios commissioned an IWD portrait of MzRizk, Lebanese Australian DJ, radio presenter, live performer/percussionist, and event curator. All the portraits went up on the Bakehouse Studios Billboards on Punt Road, Richmond on 6 March 2024 as part of the Bakehouse Public Art Project.

The self published book and the first art poster, and limited edition photographic prints are available to order.

There is an IWD playlist with all the muso’s in this series here.

Thank you to all these generous sponsors: S M L XL Fine Art Print Studio, Ian Bickerstaff, Mike Kendall, Ross Coller. Belinda Rogers, Dr Carolyn Hawke, Justine Resta, Lorraine Ellis, Peter Cahill, Susan Lloyd-Angol, Anastasia La Fey, Ece Çalışkan, Ellen Kessler, Jacey Ashton, Mark Ireland, Melissa Findlay, Sean Burns, Tanya McCulloch and Ursula Dutkiewicz.

IWD2024 portraits below

IWD2023 portraits below

IWD2023

IWD2023 is here! A photographic exhibition at Brunswick Artists' Bar and the foyer of Brunswick Ballroom from 3 – 30 March 2023 with a launch from on 8 March 2023. This is followed by an IWD live event upstairs at Brunswick Ballroom featuring some of the people in this years series, tickets here. Pre-orders for the self publication are now available here. There is also a call out for contributions to assist with the costs of this self funded project, see here.

Her is the full list of spectacular people in IWD2023 include Music Victoria Best Musician and the Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent:

Alana Wilson: musician, drummer and vocalist (Adored, Georgia Maq, Elsie Lange, Dividends)
Alanna Oliver: singer, songwriter (Romero)
Alexis Desaulniers-Lea: photographer, creative director, studio founder + image + design curator for sex, identity and body positive media
Bumpy: musician
Deb Lord: drag king, Lance TV
Jacey Ashton: drummer, drum maker, guitar pedal maker (Blake Scott, Sappho)
Jess Hitchcock: singer
Kira Puru: musician
Leah Senior: musician
LJ Dacio: vocalist, musician, collage artist (The Dacios)
Madeline Leman: musician
Maude Davey: actor
Milo Hartill: actor, model, performer, content creator and queer/fat/black advocate and activist
Olympia: artist
Paris Wells: DJ, singer, topliner
Penny Ikinger: electric guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer, curator, Music Victoria board director
Rebecca Barnard: musician
Ruby Jones: singer
Simone Page Jones: singer, performance artist, professional rebel
Vixsin: pro wrestler
Whisky Falls: performance artist, educator and writer
Vixsin: pro wrestler
Xani Kolac: artist
Zali King: riot grrrl, artist
Sponsors: Cat Scratch Studio and SMLXL Fine Art Studio Print. And 2023 Contributors: Carolyn Hawke, Claire O’Driscoll, Justine Resta, Marc Barton-Johnson, Michael Kendall and Robyn Smith.

2022 portraits, video and photo gallery of 2022 event at below

IWD2022 photo gallery by Stephen Boxshall.

Many thanks to Stephen Boxshall for this photo gallery from the IWD2022 event at Brunswick Ballroom.

IWD2022 at Brunswick Ballroom

What can you expect? Well this year, over the 20 cis and trans women and gender diverse people in the series will be taking to the stage: Brooke Russell (Brooke Russell and the Mean Reds), Ferri Maya, Frankie Valentine, Kat Mear (Cash Savage and The Last Drinks), Kerryn Fields, Sarah Carroll (Ukulele Queen of the Bellarine of The Junes and The Original Cartridge Family) and Mistress of Ceremony - Jessi Leigh.
This event will launch the IWD2022 portrait exhibition and zine.
So if you'd like to be part of it, get yourself and your friends tickets here please https://moshtix.com.au/v2/event/iwd2022/135946
The photographic exhibition will be in the Brunswick Ballroom Foyer and their Artist's Bar, generously sponsored again by S M L XL Fine Art Print Studio. Photographic prints in limited editions of 10 will be available for sale on the night.
A self published zine will also be launched on the night. Beautifully designed by Wuthipol Ujathammarat featuring all the portraits and everyones written response to what IWD means to them. You can preorder the zine now for collection at the event (or posted out) https://suzannephoenix.com/store/p/iwd-2022-zine
The full list of 20 of some of Melbourne (and Sydney's) amazing cis and trans women, and gender diverse people in this year’s series - artists, musicians, burlesque and queer performers, DJ’s, actors, sex workers, professors and activists are : Angie Hart (Frente), Brooke Russell (Brooke Russell and the Mean Reds), Catherine Barrett (Celebrate Ageing), Emma Maye Gibson and Betty Grumble, Ferri Maya (Burlyrock), Fiona Kitschin (The Drones, TFS Band), Frankie van Kan (Frankie Valentine), Jo Bangles, Kat Mear (Cash Savage and The Last Drinks, the old time duo Craig Woodward and Kat Mear), Kerryn Fields, Lauren Hammel (TFS Band, High Tension), Linda Bull, Miranda Holt (Dr Sure's Unusual Practice and Al Matcott), Neda Rahmani, Niveen Abdelatty (Hip Hop Hoe), Sarah Carroll (Ukulele Queen of the Bellarine, GIT, The Junes, The Pirates of Beer, The Left Wing and The Original Cartridge Family), Tamzen Hayes, Theresa Harrison (The Real Hot Bitches), V and Vika Bull.
10% of any profits from the 2022 series will be evenly split between Djirra and Support Act.

Each year since 2012 Suzanne Phoenix has curated a photography project – What Does International Women’s Day Mean to Me?
Suzanne brings together a group of inspiring, courageous and often outspoken cis and trans women and gender diverse people to create a visual snapshot of the fierce, funny and extraordinary people who inspire her world.
The IWD2012-21 self-publication documents 85 portraits and individual's own responses to the question 'What Does International Women's Day Mean to Me?' since the beginning of the series along with images of events and street exhibitions.
Cover image Wuthipol Ujathammarat
This is a soft cover magazine style publication, order in the store.

2020 portraits below and video of event at Hares and Hyenas.

What Does International Women's Day Mean to Me? 2020

IWD Live Loud Now: the event for the 9th year held at Hares and Hyenas on 5 March 2020.

Video by Ian Bickerstaff, 2020

Music courtesy of Shrimpwitch ‘Psychic Hysteria’ Georgi Goonsack and Kim Prawn. Recorded by Oscar Casley 2018.

Sponsors:

SMLXL Fine Art Print Studio
Jacquie Moon of Plump Design
Northcote Photo Studio
Matto Lucas Photography
Marc Barton-Johnson
Everyone who purchased a ticket and donated as well

IWD2020 photo gallery.

Photo gallery from the IWD2020 event at Hares and Hyena, by Matto Lucas.

2019 portraits below and photo gallery of event at The Alderman.

Sponsors Chester Communications, Plump Design and S M L XL Fine Art Print Studio

IWD2019 photo gallery.

Photo gallery from the IWD2019 event at The Alderman, by Matto Lucas.

2018 portraits and video of street poster paste ups below.

What Does International Women's Day Mean to Me? 2018.

15 women, activists and artists.

Paste up of the portraits as street art at the rear of 219 Smith St, Fitzroy. Generously sponsored by SMLXL Fine Art Print Studio.

Lazertits appear courtesy of Ritzland / Mushroom Music Publishing

Video by Ian Bickerstaff, 2018

2017

Year 6, 23 women, 2 days, Melbourne and the Yarra Valley. Themes:

Women who hate having their photos taken challenging themselves to do this

Women wanting to cry when asked #wdiwdmtm

‘especially this year’

Sponsored by S M L XL Fine Art Print Studio

2012 to 2016

2016 - This year I wanted to go back to basics with just one or two words and these words needed to be put on their own face. I noticed an intriguing process in myself and other women. What I was prepared to write on a piece of paper and hold up was entirely different than the words I would consider putting on my face. I noticed the messages were much more positive and I’m taking this as a wonderful thing. Whilst the world still needs International Women’s Day as we have a long way to go to equity; the women I encountered, know and love, are positive about their own selves.

2015 - The 8th of March is International Women's Day, a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. 2015 is the 4th year I have asked women to answer the question ‘What does International Women’s Day mean to me?’ It’s a question many women struggle with, many have an immediate answer, and some have never heard of it. It’s a great question to start new conversations about how far we have come, where we are at, and how far we still have to go.