New Exhibition at Emery Walker’s House Celebrates Women of the Arts and Crafts Movement

A new exhibition at Emery Walker’s House in Hammersmith, London, will shine a light on the often-overlooked women who played a crucial role in the Arts and Crafts Movement. Making Her Mark: Women in the Arts and Crafts Movement will run from June 5 to November 29, 2025, and aims to highlight the creative and professional contributions of women who helped shape this influential design movement.

Rediscovering Women’s Impact on the Arts and Crafts Movement

The Arts and Crafts Movement emerged in the late 19th century as a response to the industrialisation of production, emphasizing craftsmanship, quality, and beauty in everyday objects. While much of its history has focused on male figures like William Morris, this exhibition shifts the focus to the women whose talents and innovations were equally vital to the movement’s success.

Among the featured artists is May Morris, the daughter of William Morris, who made significant contributions in embroidery, pattern, and jewellery design for Morris & Co. Louise Powell and Phoebe Stabler achieved commercial success in ceramics, creating pieces for major companies while maintaining artistic independence. Other notable figures include Katharine Adams, a renowned bookbinder, and Mary Sloane, an internationally exhibited painter and printmaker known for her expressive etchings.

The Women’s Guild of Arts – A Pioneering Collective

A common thread linking these artists is their involvement in the Women’s Guild of Arts, founded in 1907 in response to the exclusion of women from the male-dominated Art Workers’ Guild. This collective provided its members with a vital support network, offering lectures, exhibitions, and collaborative opportunities that allowed them to pursue their craft on their own terms. Documents from the Guild’s archives, included in the exhibition, reveal the professionalism and ambition of its members, who sought to break down the barriers that limited their opportunities.

Personal Connections and Professional Networks

The exhibition also highlights the close personal connections that shaped these women’s careers. Many of the pieces on display at Emery Walker’s House were not acquired through formal transactions, but as personal gifts to Emery and Dorothy Walker, reflecting the tight-knit nature of this artistic community.

Visiting the Exhibition

Making Her Mark: Women in the Arts and Crafts Movement will be on display at Emery Walker’s House, 7 Hammersmith Terrace, from June 5 to November 29, 2025. Visits are by pre-booked guided tour only, available on Thursdays and Saturdays. For more information, visit emerywalker.org.uk/visit.

About the Emery Walker Trust

The Emery Walker Trust is a registered charity dedicated to preserving and sharing the legacy of Sir Emery Walker and the Arts and Crafts Movement. The Trust works to maintain Walker’s former home as a living museum, offering the public a chance to explore this important chapter in design history.