Touchlines of Fortitude - art exhibition

Celebrating resilience, creativity, and empowerment through the lens of rugby and visual art

A free-to-attend exhibition of works on the theme of ‘Female Resilience’ by local artists Agnieszka Lokaj, Gina DeCagna and Tahira Mandarino, curated by Lynn Szygenda.

Touchlines of Fortitude, a new exhibition and cultural programme launching in Twickenham this September, timed to coincide with the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The project celebrates female resilience, creativity, and storytelling, exploring how women’s experiences on and off the pitch can inspire communities. It brings together artists, athletes, and local voices, shining a light on underrepresented stories—including those shaped by neurodiversity.

A free-to-attend exhibition of works on the theme of ‘Female Resilience’ by Richmond based artists Agnieszka Lokaj, Gina DeCagna and Tahira Mandarino, curated by Lynn Szygenda.

About the event

Touchlines of Fortitude: Rugby Meets Art in a Celebration of Women’s Resilience

Touchlines of Fortitude, a new exhibition and cultural programme launching in Twickenham this September, timed to coincide with the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

The project celebrates female resilience, creativity, and storytelling, exploring how women’s experiences on and off the pitch can inspire communities. It brings together artists, athletes, and local voices, shining a light on underrepresented stories—including those shaped by neurodiversity.

Supported by Arts Council England, Hobbycraft and No Woman No Try

Artists exhibiting:

Agnieszka Lokaj is an award-winning multi-disciplinary artist whose work is shaped by her lived experience of ADHD. Agnieszka was longlisted for the 2024 Women in Art Emerging Artist Prize and the 2024 Visual Art Open Emerging Artist Award. Her work has been exhibited at Guildford House Gallery and Brighton Art Fair, and was selected for the Royal Birmingham Society Of Artists Friends’ 2025 exhibition. She recently curated ‘Spring Tide: A New Wave Of Art’ at Tooting’s Magan Gallery.

agalokaj.art

Gina DeCagna is a Goldsmiths MFA graduate with expertise in visual storytelling and public engagement. Allied to her experience at the British Council, she’s a founder and Artistic Director of Palimpsest Projects, and the Creative Learning Manager at the Landmark Arts Centre. As an artist, Gina’s work investigates memory, power & storytelling through visual art, text and participatory forms. As a former footballer, her lived experience of sport deepens her exploration of embodied resilience.

ginadecagna.art

Tahira Mandarino is a Fine Art MA graduate and community arts facilitator whose outreach programmes have featured at Kew Gardens and the British Council. Working across drawing, painting, textiles, film & photography, Tahira explores themes of vulnerability, emotional exposure, and the unseen. Her work delves into personal topics such as the absence of the father figure—inviting reflection on loss, identity and human connection.

tahiramandarino.com

TIME & LOCATION

Private view: Thu 11th Sep, 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Exhibition open: Fri 12th Sep – Sun 21st Sep, from 5pm

The Beach Gallery, 197 Waldegrave Road, Teddington, TW11 8LX

Touchlines of Fortitude launches this September, uniting rugby, art and female resilience in Twickenham. Set against the backdrop of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Touchlines of Fortitude showcases how art and rugby can come together to highlight women’s stories of strength and empowerment.