William Morris: The Work of Ten Men
William Morris (1834–96) – poet, novelist, artist and socialist – was one of the greatest pattern designers of all time: his work remains enduringly popular. He is famous for his superb textiles and wallpapers. Morris’s London design firm Morris & Company (1861–1940) was one of the most successful and progressive in Victorian Britain. It had an international clientele that extended to Australia, largely through Adelaide's Barr Smith family. And it is through the Barr Smith connection that Carrick Hill possesses outstanding examples of the firm's work. The lecture will cover key aspects of Morris’s design work.
About Christopher Menz
Christopher Menz is an art consultant based in Melbourne and also leads cultural tours for Academy Travel. He worked in Australian art museums from 1985 to 2012 as a curator (specialising in decorative arts) and director. He is a former Director of the Art Gallery of South Australia and prior to that worked in decorative arts at the National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of South Australia, and National Gallery of Australia. He has published and lectured extensively on Australian and Europe and decorative arts, notably on the design work of William Morris, and curated numerous exhibitions. His book Morris & Co. was published in2003 by the Art Gallery of South Australia and was produced to accompany the exhibition of the same name that toured to Sydney, Melbourne, and Christchurch.
