Artwork referencing JK Rowling taken down after being 'tampered with'

4 June 2025, 19:13 | Updated: 4 June 2025, 21:00

The National Trust says it has taken down a piece of art featuring JK Rowling's name after it was "tampered with by a member of the public".

It has urged people "not to damage or tamper with artworks" once they are finished and on public display.

Between April and November last year, visitors to Derbyshire's Hardwick Hall were invited to nominate a "contemporary Virtuous Woman", whose name was then sewn into the fabric, before it was put on public show in February.

Until recently, the artwork, A Virtuous Woman, has continued to be on display, featuring the Harry Potter author's name, which was "stitched over by other participants" at an unspecified time.

Feminist campaigner Jean Hatchet said on X last week that she had "corrected" the work by unpicking the stitching which was over Rowling's name.

It comes after criticism of Rowling's views on gender issues that have seen her called transphobic by activists, which she has denied.

The National Trust said the piece has been "taken off display… to protect it from further tampering or damage".

Ms Hatchet has criticised the organisation's move, saying she removed the "stitching with the correct tool", took "great time and care", and did not damage it.

She told Sky News: "Everyone involved in managing this project behaved in a cowardly fashion after a vindictive individual performed an act of woman-hating. It should have been removed immediately. Because they wouldn't, we did."

The stitched names of British queens, artist Yoko Ono, ex-prime minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher, climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, and singer Taylor Swift among others appear not to have stitching over them on the recycled textile.

The work comes from artist Layla Khoo in association with the University of Leeds and the National Trust.

A spokeswoman for the trust said: "The artwork was open to contributions for eight months and closed in November when the piece was finished and put on public display.

"During the participation phase, JK Rowling's name was stitched on to the piece seven times and in two instances it was stitched over by other participants.

"At the time the artwork was completed and subsequently hung, JK Rowling's name appeared five times without any overstitching.

"We ask people not to damage or tamper with artworks once they are finished and on public display.

"The piece has been taken off display for investigation and to protect it from further tampering or damage. We take all claims and incidents of damage to items in our care seriously and investigate each one."

(c) Sky News 2025: Artwork referencing JK Rowling taken down after being 'tampered with'