Kirsten Murray
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Arts & Crafts Women Exhibition

Exhibition design, Graphic design

Arts & Crafts Women Exhibition

Arts & Crafts Women Exhibition

The Arts & Crafts Women exhibition, by Historic Environment Scotland, highlights the work and lives of five artists who were at the forefront of this art movement in Scotland: Margaret MacDonald, Frances MacDonald MacNair, Jessie Newbery, Ann Macbeth, and Phoebe Anna Traquair. I collaborated with Kat Summers and Don’t Walk studio to create an exhibition design that puts a spotlight on the women who shaped a movement.

The Arts and Crafts style took off in the late 1880s, in response to mass production. It celebrated traditional craftsmanship such as decorative art, embroidery, woodwork, interior design, painting, and metalwork. Portraits of the artist were illum

The Arts and Crafts style took off in the late 1880s, in response to mass production. It celebrated traditional craftsmanship such as decorative art, embroidery, woodwork, interior design, painting, and metalwork. Portraits of the artist were illuminated using lightboxes, and information on each woman was displayed on extendable clipboards, to create a tactile exhibit.

Taking inspiration from the artists’ embroidery designs, we created a motif for each artist. Combined, these form a series of patterns which we used as a backdrop for the exhibition display and for promotional postcards.

Taking inspiration from the artists’ embroidery designs, we created a motif for each artist. Combined, these form a series of patterns which we used as a backdrop for the exhibition display and for promotional postcards.

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Three of the women featured in the exhibition studied at The Glasgow School of Art. We worked with the School’s Centre of Advanced Textiles to create fabric hangings for the exhibition design and to replicate some of the artists’ works, including Ma

Three of the women featured in the exhibition studied at The Glasgow School of Art. We worked with the School’s Centre of Advanced Textiles to create fabric hangings for the exhibition design and to replicate some of the artists’ works, including Margaret Macdonald’s Skinny Ladies.

By using their work to campaign for women’s rights, promote social equality, and create a sense of community, they helped pave the way for more women to learn arts and crafts skills, and to be recognised in their own right as artists. Much of these

By using their work to campaign for women’s rights, promote social equality, and create a sense of community, they helped pave the way for more women to learn arts and crafts skills, and to be recognised in their own right as artists. Much of these artists’ work has been lost or destroyed, but Historic Environment Scotland is working to help conserve this part of Scotland’s artistic past.

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