(c) Pete Carr

May Morris: Crafting a Legacy

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 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.

A remarkable woman, May Morris devoted her life to crafting a legacy which continues to inspire designers, makers and educators today. This exhibition brings together loans from UK collections, including Leicestershire Museums, The William Morris Society, the William Morris Gallery, and the Victoria and the V&A.