May Morris – Lady Lever Art Gallery, UK

The exhibition

This exhibition is a celebration of the wide-ranging creative output of Arts and Crafts designer and maker, May Morris, the younger daughter of William Morris. A vibrant display of embroideries, wallpapers, watercolour designs, costume and jewellery will showcase her many talents.

Today she is regarded as one of the most pioneering artists of the Arts and Crafts movement. A talented designer and needleworker, she elevated the embroiderer’s craft from a trivial hobby to a serious art form worthy of recognition. But in her lifetime her nature-inspired designs were often misattributed to her father, resulting in the underestimation of her artistic influence.

In 1885, aged just 23, she became the manager of Morris & Co’s embroidery department. She designed kits and special commissions for the firm’s British and overseas clients while supervising her small team of employees. At a time when the Victorian textile industry was notorious for exploitation, May provided fair pay and shorter working hours. She recruited and trained women from diverse communities and backgrounds, and her high standards ensured top quality handwork.

When her father died in 1896, May stepped down from this role to pursue her own career as a designer, maker, embroidery tutor, lecturer, editor and writer. A vigorous advocate for women artists, she co-founded the Women’s Guild of Arts in 1907. This created a much-needed professional forum for women, decades before they were admitted to the Art Workers’ Guild. May went on to advocate traditional craft practice to a wider audience, delivering influential lectures across the USA on the history of jewellery and medieval embroidery.

A remarkable woman, May Morris devoted her life to crafting a legacy which continues to inspire designers, makers and educators today. This beautiful exhibition celebrates that legacy and brings together loans of artwork from various UK collections, including Leicestershire Museums, The William Morris Society, the William Morris Gallery, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Arts and Crafts metalwork from National Museums Liverpool’s collection will also be on display.

This is a free exhibition with no need to book tickets, but donations are welcome. Your donation makes a real difference and can help us welcome school and community groups, care for our world-class collections and share our great museums and galleries with everyone. Suggested donation of £5.

Image: ‘Arcadia’ Wallpaper, May Morris © The William Morris Society