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ArchiveExhibition

Althea McNish: Colour is Mine

21 Oct 2022-23 Apr 2023

The Whitworth
Manchester M15 6ER

Overview

The Whitworth is pleased to announce Althea McNish: Colour is Mine, the first major retrospective of Althea McNish (1924 – 2020).

McNish is one of the UK’s most influential and innovative textile designers and the first designer of Caribbean descent to achieve international recognition. Drawing on extensive new research, this exhibition explores McNish’s extraordinary career and her transformative impact on mid-century design, along with her enduring influence today. Highlights include items from McNish’s recently uncovered personal archive – much of which has never been seen before. Also on display will be examples of McNish’s original designs alongside her most celebrated textile and wallpapers.

Althea McNish: Colour is Mine is a touring exhibition from the William Morris Gallery, London, and has been curated by Rowan Bain, Principal Curator at the William Morris Gallery and Rose Sinclair, Lecturer in Design Education at Goldsmiths, University of London. Althea McNish: Colour Is Mine is part of a three-year research, exhibition and archiving project generously supported by the Society of Antiquaries through its Janet Arnold Award.