Ball gowns, glittering crowns and generations of family tradition come together in this project, reflecting an uncanny world where beauty, performance and belonging intertwine. Behind the glamour lies a culture of community, sisterhood and inherited rituals. Through her distinctive photographic practice, Rowse once again reconnects young people with Cornwall’s cultural heritage.
Alongside Rowse’s new photographic work, the exhibition will showcase archival images of past pageant queens, bringing together generations of Cornish women and celebrating the history of these often-overlooked traditions.
Blurring the boundaries between documentary photography, fashion and cultural archive, Queen of Queens celebrates femininity, family tradition and self-expression, transforming Cornwall’s traditional landscapes into a stage for fantasy, sisterhood and a new generation of Cornish identity.
Fran Rowse is an award-winning Cornish photographer and curator. Working across photography, digital art, mixed media, and archival practice, her work centres on the overlooked lives and stories of women and girls in the South West of England. Rooted in lived experience from a working-class background of fisherman and farmers, her practice bridges rural communities and the art world through collaborative, socially engaged projects.
