Gritted Teeth

Grassroots arts collective Bad Behaviour presents Gritted Teeth, a bold new exhibition exploring the quiet resilience and absurd expectations woven into womanhood.

Featuring 24 female artists spanning ages from 20s to 70s, Gritted Teeth delves into everyday acts of endurance: smiling through mansplaining, enduring heels that hurt, bras that dig in, discomfort disguised as beauty, and holding composure under the pressures the patriarchy piles on. The artworks live in that tense space between grace and discomfort, patience and pressure — blending humour with honesty born from the sheer absurdity of it all. Situated in the downstairs space at The Department Store, Brixton, this free exhibition moves beyond traditional gallery boundaries to offer an unapologetic and accessible look at the 'grit' required to navigate 2026.