Exhibition 'Denise Wren: Hope for Beauty' in Kingston Museum
This December will see a new temporary exhibition open at Kingston Museum which showcases the visually stunning archive of works on paper by Denise Wren. This exhibition will explore the range of styles Denise encompassed during her artistic career and in addition to her designs for textiles and wallpaper, we will be displaying many newly acquired ceramics, generously donated to us by Peter Crotty, husband of Denise’s daughter Rosemary.
Wren studied at Kingston School of Art under the influential Art Nouveau designer Archibald Knox. When Knox quit, Wren and her fellow students formed the Knox Guild of Design and Craft, following Knox’s mantra ‘Aim at order, hope for beauty’. The guild was based at 24 Market Place, Kingston, displaying their work locally at Kingston Museum and at the Whitechapel Gallery in East London.
Wren went on to establish the Oxshott Pottery in Surrey, designed prints for West End department store Liberty of London, and with her husband Henry Wren, published extensively on their technical knowledge.