Visit inspiring craft, fashion and textiles exhibitions

There’s something about Spring that makes me want to go out and visit places. I’m really looking forward to visiting Wonderwool Wales later this month. In addition to many yarn festivals, there’s also lots of craft, fashion and textiles exhibitions during the next few months. I’ve selected a few you might like to visit during April, May and June. My list includes major textiles exhibitions at famous museums as well as exhibitions at smaller venues.

This is a list of UK exhibitions: it includes dates and venues along with links to the websites.

Stories in Stitches

September 2016 – August 2017
Royal School of Needlework, Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU
Website: Stories in Stitch; RSN.

This textile exhibition features contemporary work by RSN students as well as appliqué, stumpwork and raised embroidery from their archive.

edge @ Verdant Works

21 January – 23 April 2017
Verdant Works, West Henderson’s Wynd, Dundee, DD1 5BT
Website: edge @ Verdant Works; Dundee.

A textile exhibition featuring work by contemporary artists inspired by the history of the jute industry in Dundee.

Entangled: Threads & Making

28 January – 7 May 2017
Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous, Margate, Kent CT9 1HG
Website: Entangled: Threads & Making; Turner Contemporary.

An exhibition of crafts, such as sculpture, installation, tapestry, textiles and jewellery from over 40 international female artists. These artists expand the possibilities of embroidery, weaving, sewing and wood carving, often incorporating unexpected materials such as plants, clothing, hair and bird quills.

Josef Frank: Patterns-Furniture-Painting

28 January – 7 May 2017
Fashion and Textile Museum, Bermondsey, London SE1 3XF
Website: Josef Frank: Patterns-Furniture-Painting; FTM.

In association with Millegården, Stockholm.

A major exhibition of the colourful work of Josef Frank, a key Swedish Modern designer and artist.

Lace in Fashion

4 February 2017 – 1 January 2018
Fashion Museum, Assembly Rooms, Bennett Street, Bath BA1 2QH
Website: New Art West Midlands 2017; Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

An exhibition of over 50 historic items, as well as, newer designer dresses featuring lace.

New Art West Midlands 2017

18 February – 14 May 2017
Roof Gallery, National Centre for Craft and Design, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 7TW
Website: New Art West Midlands 2017; Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

This exhibition features some of the most exciting emerging artists who have graduated from the region’s university art schools. These include Birmingham City, Coventry, Staffordshire, Wolverhampton and Worcester Universities, as well as, Hereford College for the Arts.

Julie Cope’s Grand Tour: The Story of a Life by Grayson Perry

11 March – 13 May 2017
Banbury Museum, Castle Quay Shopping Centre, Spiceball Park Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX16 2PQ
Website: Julie Cope’s Grand Tour: The Story of a Life; Banbury Museum

A Crafts Council touring exhibition

An exhibition of two large-scale tapestries by Grayson Perry. These tapestries tell the story of Julie Cope, a fictional character created by Perry.

What do I need to do to make it ok?

18 March – 14 May 2017
Roof Gallery, National Centre for Craft and Design, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 7TW
Website: What do I need to do to make it ok? NCCD.

Touring exhibition supported by Arts Council England and the International Textile Research Centre of the University for the Creative Arts, with additional support from Canada Council for the Arts and Design & Crafts Council of Ireland.

This exhibition features specially commissioned work using stitch and other media. The artists explore damage and repair, disease and medicine, and healing and restoration to landscapes, bodies, minds and objects.

1920s Jazz Age: Fashion & Photographs

18 March – 29 October 2017
American Museum in Britain, Claverton Manor, Bath BA2 7BD
Website: 1920s Jazz Age; American Museum in Britain.

A touring exhibition from the Museum of Fashion and Textile.

This exhibition links changes in fashion during the 1920s to changes in moral, social and cultural attitudes. It was one of the best exhibitions I saw last year!

Sample by Collect Scotland

24 March – 18 June 2017
The Lighthouse, Glasgow G1 3NU
Website: Sample by Collect Scotland.

This exhibition showcases the work of 15 contemporary Scottish textile designers.

Gudrun Sjödén: Four Decades of Colour & Design

25 April – 7 May 2017
Fashion and Textile Museum, Bermondsey, London SE1 3XF
Website: Gudrun Sjödén: Four Decades of Colour & Design.

I’m particularly looking forward to this exhibition. It will feature vintage designs, sketches, early catalogues and videos from the Gudrun Sjödén’s archive.

Black Sheep: The Darker Side of Felt

8 May – 2 July 2017
Beacon Museum, Whitehaven, Cumbria, CA28 7LY
Website: The Darker Side of Felt; Black Sheep.

An NCCD Touring Exhibition.

An exhibition featuring the work of contemporary felt makers from Europe and North America.

Made in the Middle: Contemporary Craft from the Midlands

13 May – 9 July 2017
Roof Gallery, National Centre for Craft and Design, Sleaford, Lincolnshire, NG34 7TW
Website: Made in the Middle; NCCD.

A partnership between Craftspace and the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in collaboration with the NCCD.

An annual exhibition showing some of the best contemporary craft and applied art from the Midlands.

Julie Cope’s Grand Tour: The Story of a Life by Grayson Perry

20 May – 16 July 2017
New Brewery Arts, Brewery Court, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1JH
Website: Julie Cope’s Grand Tour: The Story of a Life; New Brewery Arts

A Crafts Council touring exhibition

An exhibition of two large-scale tapestries by Grayson Perry. These tapestries tell the story of Julie Cope, a fictional character created by Perry.

The World of Anna Sui

26 May – 1 October 2017
Fashion and Textile Museum, Bermondsey, London SE1 3XF
Website: The World of Anna Sui; FTM.

The first retrospective exhibition of an American designer in the UK. See over 100 looks from Anna Sui’s archive.

Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion

Opening 27 May 2017
V&A, Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
Website: Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion; V&A.

A major exhibition showing how Cristóbal Balenciaga’s exquisite craftsmanship and innovative designs shaped modern fashion.

What’s in your diary?

So, are you planning to visit any craft, fashion or textiles exhibitions this year?

Please leave a comment if there any other exhibitions that you would recommend?