A major exhibition exploring the evolution of the Arts and Crafts movement is coming to the Shimane Prefectural Museum of Art, bringing together 168 works spanning textiles, furniture, books, crafts, jewelry, and design.
“Arts and Crafts: From William Morris to Frank Lloyd Wright” traces the movement from its roots in 19th-century Britain to its development in the United States. It is the first exhibition in the San'in region to comprehensively explore this design lineage.
At the heart of the exhibition is William Morris, the British designer, poet, and philosopher who became a central figure in the Arts and Crafts movement. The movement emerged partly in response to the poor-quality mass-produced goods associated with the Industrial Revolution, instead championing craftsmanship and the idea that beauty and art should be part of everyday life.
Among the highlights is Morris' famous 1883 textile design The Strawberry Thief, alongside furniture, wallpaper, books, and other examples of decorative arts. The exhibition also follows how these ideas developed in America, including through the work of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who took inspiration from Morris while embracing the possibilities offered by machinery.
For visitors interested in design, architecture, or art, the exhibition offers a chance to see how ideas about beauty, functionality, and craftsmanship helped shape modern design.
The museum will also host related events during the exhibition, including curator talks, lectures, creative workshops, a British music concert, and a special afternoon tea menu at its lakeside restaurant.
