Exhibition Review of Althea McNish: Colour Is Mine, William Morris Gallery, London, 2 April–11 September 2022

Abstract

This article is a review of the exhibition Althea McNish: Colour is Mine at The William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow, London – 2 April to 11 September 2022. Co-curated by Rose Sinclair of Goldsmiths and Senior Curator Rowan Bain of the William Morris Gallery, the exhibition is the first major retrospective of significance about the work of Trinidadian-born textile artist and designer Althea McNish. It features original textile design work, fabrics, artefacts, photographs and archival film footage that celebrates McNish’s prolific and vibrant cultural contribution to twentieth century textile design. Exhibits include items from McNish’s personal archive – early sketches and prints from the Trinidad Art Society, through to sample books, swathes of original fabrics from Heals, Hull Traders and Liberty, later paintings created by innovative CAD technology and an interpretation of the 1966 Ideal Home exhibit “A Bachelor Girl’s Room” recreated by Studio NYALI. It highlights the renown in which McNish was held in the 1960s-80s and in doing so, asks challenging questions about why this extraordinary black woman designer – the first designer of Caribbean descent to achieve international recognition – has been so overlooked in recent decades. The exhibition forms part of a three-year research project on McNish’s legacy led by Rose Sinclair and funded by the Society of Antiquaries through its Janet Arnold Textile Award.