Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge – will come together to reveal the wider impacts of islamic textiles, ceramics, metalwork, and manuscripts from Morris’ collection on his creative output.
This groundbreaking exhibition delves into the influence of Islamic art on William Morris, one of Britain’s foremost nineteenth-century designers and thinkers. As a principal figure behind the Arts and Crafts Movement, Morris pioneered a distinct aesthetic in British interiors, creating hundreds of patterns for wallpapers, textiles, carpets, and embroideries. Although Islamic art’s impact on Morris’s work has been recognized, this exhibition offers the first in-depth exploration of its significance in his artistic journey.
In addition to his iconic designs, visitors will encounter remarkable pieces from Morris’s personal collection of Islamic textiles, ceramics, metalwork, and manuscripts—now housed in renowned UK institutions, including the British Library, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. This collection, assembled for the first time, reveals the profound effect of these objects and their intricate designs on Morris’s creative legacy.
The exhibition will also examine the categorization of “Islamic art” and “Islamic world,” terms often used to classify works from regions historically linked to Islam. Recognizing the diversity within this vast cultural output, the exhibition will challenge the idea of a singular identity, exploring instead the rich variety of styles and techniques across geographic regions.
Featuring over 60 works, the exhibition highlights how Islamic design elements directly influenced some of Morris’s most famous patterns, such as Flower Garden (1879), Wild Tulip, and Granada (1884). This showcase aims to deepen our appreciation for Morris’s work and expand our understanding of the global inspirations that shaped this quintessentially British designer.
Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Garfield Weston Foundation, this exhibition offers a fresh perspective on William Morris’s artistry. For more information, please visit the William Morris Gallery.
Reported by: Artshub
For more information: William Morris Gallery
