Althea McNish: Colour is Mine (The Whitworth)

Althea McNish: Colour is Mine is presented at The Whitworth in Manchester and is a major retrospective of Althea McNish (1924 – 2020) on tour from William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow, London, UK. McNish was the first Caribbean designer to achieve international recognition and one of the most influential and innovative textile designers in the UK. Drawing on extensive and continuing research, as part of a three year research project, funded by the Society of Antiquaries this exhibition continues to explore McNish’s extraordinary career and her transformative impact on mid-century design, along with her enduring influence today.

The exhibition in Manchester is an opportunity to reveal the Whitworth’s unparalleled collection of fabrics and wallpapers McNish designed and display these together for the first time as well as a number of unseen works from the McNish Trust Family Archive.

This show also features a number of works by McNish’s friends and contemporaries including: fellow member of Trinidad Art Society Sybil Atteck, tutors Edward Bawden and Eduardo Paolozzi alongside contemporary designers Shirley Craven, fellow members of the Caribbean Artist Movement Ronald Moody and Winston Branch, Paul Dash, Errol Lloyd, and renowned photographer Vanley Burke, alongside work from and protégé Leslee Wills, creating a display of the very best of post-war British design.

Thus extending the work and research already done during the first tour of this major restrospective at The William Morris Gallery ( 2nd April 2022 to 11th Sept 2022)