THE ART OF WALL PAPER – WILLIAM MORRIS & CO.
The Art of Wallpaper: Morris & Co. opens at Watts Gallery on 21 May (until 10 January 2027). Expect a very special opportunity to see original 19th century samples of iconic wallpaper designed by William Morris (1834-1896) and his circle that revolutionised interior design.
From much-loved favourites, including Pimpernel (1876) and Golden Lily (1899) to rarer designs, the exhibition presents more than 30 original wallpapers from the archive of Morris & Co., the company established by William Morris in 1861 and the cornerstone of the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Originally curated by wallpaper and textile historian Mary Schoeser, the exhibition traces the history of Morris & Co., and explores William Morris’s influences, his creative directions and his enduring legacy – that will be seen in a new film by artist Freddie Yauner and a new wallpaper design by artist-researcher Louise Atkinson.
Coinciding with The Art of Wallpaper, visitors to Watts Gallery will discover more about the Arts and Crafts legacy of the Gallery’s co-founder, Mary Watts (1849-1938), whose Chapel and Pottery embody Arts and Crafts ideals; and of her husband and co-founder, George Frederic Watts (1817-1904) – whose celebrated portrait of William Morris (1870), on loan from the National Portrait Gallery, will be displayed in the exhibition.
William Morris was a revolutionary designer, craftsman, writer, social activist and conservationist who, as a key founder and central figure of the Arts and Crafts Movement, introduced a new and instantly recognisable visual aesthetic into British interiors. Morris pioneered a new approach to design and manufacture, championing hand craftsmanship during a time in British history when industrial mass production was at its peak.
Founded in April 1861 as Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co and together with artists Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898), Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) and Ford Madox Brown (1821-1893), Morris set out to revive the art of hand-making items for the home.
Along with stained glass, carpets and metalwork, the company started producing repeating patterns for wallpaper, and in this exhibition are original samples of early designs, including Trellis (1864), the company’s first wallpaper design, and Daisy (1864), the first wallpaper they produced.
In 1875, the company rebranded as Morris & Co., and over the next twenty years, Morris expanded the business, opening an Oxford Street shop and showroom in 1877, a shop in Manchester, and appointing agents across Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States.
It was during this period that a number of Morris’s most famous designs appeared, including Pimpernel (1876) and Willow Boughs (1887).
The Art of Wallpaper features classic Morris & Co. designs from other notable designers, including May Morris, daughter of William Morris, who, in 1885 at the age of just 23, was appointed manageress of the embroidery department at Morris & Co.. May ran the studio for 12 years and designed many of the patterns known today, including Honeysuckle (1883). Following Morris’s death in 1896, his protégé John Henry Dearle, former shop assistant-turned-tapestry apprentice and designer, took over as creative director to continue the company’s design legacy and several of his designs, including Golden Lily (1899) will feature in the exhibition.
In 1940 Morris & Co. was acquired by Arthur Sanderson & Sons Ltd, where it continues to thrive. The Art of Wallpaper: Morris & Co. is presented in partnership with the Sanderson Design Group Archive and Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh. Originally curated by Mary Schoeser, the exhibition has been adapted and curated for Watts Gallery by Corinna Henderson.
Corinna Henderson, Exhibitions Curator, Watts Gallery, said: “Rather than presenting Morris in isolation, this exhibition traces a broader story, beginning with the earlier decorative traditions that influenced him and moving through the collaborative practice of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. and later Morris & Co.” Our approach at Watts has been to situate this work within a wider artistic and social context, drawing out connections with G. F. Watts and Mary Seton Watts and their shared commitment to art as a vehicle for social and cultural change.”
Claire Vallis, Design Director, Sanderson Design Group, said: “We are thrilled to continue the tour of The Art of Wallpaper exhibition, originally curated by Mary Schoeser, which delves into our rich archive at Sanderson Design Group. Morris & Co. was central to the Arts and Crafts movement, a legacy that continues to resonate today, so we’re excited to be supporting this wonderful exhibition. By displaying Morris & Co. alongside G. F. Watts and Mary Seton Watts, The Art of Wallpaper explores this legacy anew through its artistic contemporaries, tracing the traditions that shaped Morris & Co.’s distinctive style and collaborative ethos.”
The Art of Wallpaper: Morris & Co. opens at Watts Gallery on 21 May (until 10 January 2027).
Accompanying the exhibition are a series of special events and complementary exhibitions, including Beyond Strawberry Thief at Watts Contemporary Gallery (2 July – 30 August), presenting nature paintings and prints by Rosalinda Kightley and stained glass by members of the British Society of Master Glass Painters.
For further information, visit wattsgallery.org.uk
