Post-Impressionist Living: The Omega Workshop


Charming exhibition at Charleston Farmhouse looking at the story and work of the Omega Workshop.

Founded in 1913 the Omega workshop was the brain child of Roger Fry, inspired by the spirit of Post-Impressionism, who set up a co-operative of artists to bring colour into Edwardian homes and to provide paid work for those designers. Although the workshop only lasted until 1919 it work has had a lasting effect.

The show brought together a wonderful array of objects as well as pictures painted at the time or showing Omega items. There was also good use made of archive material. I liked the way it was arranged by type of object so you got a section on rugs as well as a display case of lamps. I think my favourite section looked at furniture as it gave you a real sense of what these rooms would have looked like, although of course you can also go round the house itself to see the effect.

A star of the show was a newly acquired portrait of a woman with white Omega plates on the dresser behind her. These were shown with the plates donated to Charleston by Jeremy Hutchinson in memory of his mother Mary.

A show that makes you want to go home and paint your furniture!

Closes 19 January 2020

Review
Telegraph


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