The Lipstick Effect: A Femme Lensed Exhibition at the Sydney Opera House, Presented by Agender
Transforming the Opera House’s Western Broadwalk into an open-air gallery from 1 – 9 March 2025, The Lipstick Effect brings together powerful visual storytelling and the thought-provoking perspectives of past All About Women speakers. The exhibition celebrates International Women’s Day 2025 through the creation of an immersive space for dialogue, reflection, and activism.
A Celebration of Strength, Creativity, and Representation Buying small indulgences – like lipstick – during times of economic hardship is so common that the phenomenon has been nicknamed ‘the lipstick effect’. The Lipstick Effect exhibition reframes this notion as a symbol of ingenuity, resilience and the complexity of women’s experiences.
The Lipstick Effect pairs works by 18 acclaimed Australian female photographers with ideas from past and present All About Women speakers — celebrated writers, thinkers, and social commentators who have shaped global conversations on pressing issues in the community. The result is a dynamic dialogue between art and discourse, challenging perspectives on gender, identity, and social justice.
Featuring fine art, fashion, advertising, documentary and portrait photography, the exhibition showcases the diverse and evolving female gaze.
Agender is a gender equality initiative founded by Cybele Malinowski and Angela Liang, celebrating the talent, wisdom, and experience of female-identifying photographers and directors.
Driven by the belief that representation matters, Agender amplifies diverse perspectives through exhibitions, campaigns, and cultural conversations. By showcasing female talent and fostering connections between artists, brands, and institutions, Agender creates pathways for creatives and drives meaningful change in the arts and advertising industries—fields that remain predominantly male.
In an industry where women are significantly underrepresented, Agender's work is pivotal in transforming how society perceives and values women's contributions to visual culture.
