Celebrated for her intimate paintings of women and interior scenes, Gwen John (1876 – 1939) is considered one of the most accomplished Welsh artists of the twentieth century.
After her death, John left behind a studio filled with hundreds of drawings and studies, which were subsequently entrusted to Amgueddfa Cymru. The largest body of John’s work in the world, this extraordinary and rarely seen collection provides a privileged insight into the artist’s processes and techniques.
2026 will mark the 150th anniversary of John's birth. To celebrate this occasion, a major exhibition has been conceived by Amgueddfa Cymru in partnership with National Galleries of Scotland, Yale Center for British Art and the National Museum of Women in the Arts, USA.
This will be the first major solo retrospective dedicated to John in over forty years. Foregrounding the artist’s studio collection, it showcases paintings and drawings from John’s early years in Wales through to her final works, offering a unique opportunity to examine anew the development of John’s art.
Join us for an evening with curators, conservators, poets, artists and experts, delving into the creative processes and innovative techniques of this renowned artist. Be part of a discussion exploring the serial nature of John’s art, her vibrant use of colour, the devotional nature of John's art, and the transnational reception and legacy of her work.
We hope you can join us.
Tickets: This is a free event, but tickets are required for entry. Tickets will be available soon.
Dress code: Amgueddfa Cymru belongs to everyone. Please come as you are.
Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales is a charity, and a family of seven national museums and one collections centre located across Wales. But we’re more than our buildings. Our sites are vital community spaces that reach far beyond their location on a map. Our aim is to inspire everyone we reach through Wales’s story and we recognise that everyone has something to contribute through our museums, collections and the work we do.
