Museum der Arbeit

Franki Raffles (1955–1994) was a feminist, activist, and social documentary photographer whose work focused on the realities of women’s lives. Her photographic series – often accompanied by quotes and interviews – centre on the working conditions and everyday working lives of women in Scotland, the Soviet Union (Russia, Georgia, and Ukraine), China, Zimbabwe, the Caribbean, Israel, and Palestine. 

Originally curated by Sarah Munro, Emma Dean, and Rose McCurray at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead (UK), this exhibition marks Raffles’ first presentation to a German audience. The Museum der Arbeit is delighted to be the venue for this first showing – not only because of the common interest in the subject of work, but also because of the ongoing relevance of Raffles’ themes: gender equality, social inequality, gender-specific and sexualised violence, activism, and global solidarity. 
Raffles aimed for her work to be shown in locations that were as accessible as possible. The people featured in her photographs should have access to the spaces where they were exhibited. The Museum der Arbeit is also committed to this ethos – with the goal of introducing Franki Raffles and her work to as many people as possible in the summer of 2026.