The exhibition featured the work of Paul, Eagle, McPherson, Lonie, Juliet Batten, Claudia Eyley, Keri Hulme, Nancy Petersen, Helen Rockel, Carole Stewart and Tiffany Thornley.
[10] The show Mothers was particularly successful, and Allan Highet (then Minister of Internal Affairs) purchased 500 copies of the catalogue for distribution in schools and universities.
Many women who saw this show were deeply moved to recognise their own experience in art for perhaps the first time.The gallery struggled financially from its inception, and in early 1981 had to cancel a planned national tour of five poets/musicians due to an inability to obtain funding.
[7] The decision to close was made at the annual meeting in January of that year, largely due to ongoing financial difficulties.
The Women's Gallery Incorporated charity continued to operate as a parent organisation and provide financial support for Spiral projects until 2005.