Rest in Power: QVWC exhibition honours Isla Bell and a student-led movement against gendered violence

A powerful new exhibition at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre (QVWC) is inviting Melburnians to reflect, remember and act in the face of rising gendered violence.

Rest In Power, running from November 25 to December 12, responds directly to the deaths of 85 women* in 2024, including 19-year-old Isla Bell. What began as a graduate art show by RMIT students was transformed into a bold protest after Isla’s death — a spontaneous, united stand that reverberated nationally.

The exhibition now brings that moment into public view, honouring both Isla’s memory and the courage of the students who refused to let her story fade.

Developed in collaboration with Isla’s family and designed by Moth Design, Rest In Power features photographic documentation of the original student protest, along with informal conversations and materials that shaped the movement. The result is a deeply personal and political archive, capturing a raw and pivotal moment in Victoria’s struggle against gendered violence.

In partnership with The Red Heart Campaign and Australian Femicide Watch, the exhibition also includes a memorial list naming women* killed by gendered violence from 2024 to the present — a stark reminder of why this work continues.

Across QVWC’s ground floor and Birnbeal Gallery, visitors encounter spaces deliberately designed for action as much as reflection. A writing wall, areas for contemplation and a placard-making station encourage people to participate in the 2025 Walk Against Family Violence, which takes place on November 28.

A companion catalogue features written reflections from RMIT students, staff, Isla’s family and community advocates, offering a layered portrait of grief, activism and solidarity one year on.

Rest In Power forms part of Victoria’s 16 Days of Activism campaign and invites visitors not only to witness, but to join a growing movement demanding systemic change.

The exhibition is free and open at QVWC, 210 Lonsdale St, from November 25 to December 12.

*‘Women’ includes trans and gender diverse women and sistergirls.