Descendant of a Rebel Dyke is an intergenerational journey through dyke activism, tracing its roots from 1980s and 90s London to the dyke renaissance of 2020s Liverpool.

The Rebel Dykes learned from the women at Greenham Common that the personal is political, taking that energy to London where they built activist networks, punk clubs, and cultural spaces such as Chain Reaction. They made art, fought for rights, carved out space for lesbians and dykes in a hostile climate, and created a legacy of radical resistance.
This co-curated exhibition draws from the Rebel Dykes archive to tell these stories alongside Liverpool’s own dyke histories and contemporary movements. From political organising to creative expression, Descendant of a Rebel Dyke shows how activism ripples across time and how one generation’s struggle sparks another’s uprising.

Featuring oral histories, films, photographs, posters, zines, and artwork from both past and present, the exhibition invites a conversation between generations. It asks what we inherit from those who came before, and what we will pass on.

By connecting London’s history of dyke activism with Liverpool today, Descendant of a Rebel Dyke honours the legacy of those who refused to be silent and celebrates the ongoing fight for visibility, rights, and joy.

Banner by Emily Witham.

]Exhibition location is the Royal Standard Liverpool, inside Ryde Bicycle Cafe which is the 1st door on the left as you enter Royal Standard. 

Exhibition is open Monday-Saturday, 1pm – 4pm.