‘Transforming the World with Beauty’: The Extraordinary Art and Work of William Morris

Discover William Morris’s life and work, focusing on his revolutionary floral designs that transformed Victorian art, inspired by nature and rooted in craft, poetry, and socialism.

About the event

Artist, craftsman, writer, poet, socialist, and printer, William Morris was a remarkable figure whose talents spanned a wide range of disciplines. However, it is his work as a designer that is often considered his greatest legacy.

Morris’s deep love and understanding of the natural world permeated every aspect of his work, from his iconic wallpapers and textiles to his stunning stained glass and hand-printed books.

This talk will explore Morris’s life and career, with a particular focus on his floral art, which helped to revolutionise the aesthetics of Victorian Britain.

 

Additional information

This event is eligible for our 20% ticket bundle discount.

Book tickets to three or more different events across the festival and you can save 20%. Tickets must be purchased in the same transaction and the discount will automatically be applied within the basket.

About the speaker

Helen Mary Elletson has been Curator of Research and Development at the William Morris Society since 2000 and Curator at Emery Walker’s House since 2010.

Amongst Helen’s publications are A History of Kelmscott House (2009) and Highlights of the William Morris Society’s Collection (2015), as well as articles on the Arts and Crafts movement including A Feeling for Beauty: May Morris, Emery Walker, and the Arts and Crafts of Hammersmith in Country Life (2017), and The Flowers of William and May Morris in The Victorians: A Botanical Perspective (2024)