Visual arts are core to the Morley Experience, with a professional-grade Gallery and Exhibitions Service a key feature of the college’s provision.
Morley Gallery (Westminster Bridge Road)
Morley Gallery opened in 1968 as part of the Arts Centre in Morley College.
The Arts Centre, situated in an old pub adjacent to the main College building, has a painting and drawing studio and a print studio on the first, second and third floors. Morley Gallery occupies the whole of the ground floor with six imposing windows facing Westminster Bridge Road and King Edward Walk, London,SE1.
The Gallery shows between eight and twelve exhibitions a year, each exhibition running on average for one month. The annual exhibition programme usually includes exhibitions of painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, ceramics, textiles, installations, digital and sound art by independent artists and groups. Over the past 40 years many high-profile artists have exhibited in the gallery, including solo exhibitions by Peter Blake Cabinet of Curiosities and several shows by Maggi Hambling including the acclaimed Father.
Morley Gallery is an integral part of College life and there is a strong commitment to exhibit work made by Morley students.
Visit www.morleygallery.com to find out more
Exhibition spaces
At Waterloo, we maintain four internal display spaces, which feature approximately eight exhibitions a year each:
- the Foyer Gallery at the Centre entrance, which hosts among other shows the annual Christmas jewellery exhibition
- the Cardew Gallery on the ground floor, which hosts digital, printmaking and fine art exhibitions
- the Bawden Cases in the College refectory, which are noted for their ceramics displays
- the Barry Till Gallery on the third and fourth floors, which hosts displays of photography and fine art.
At Chelsea, art forms on display often include textiles and fashion, photography, fine art and digital arts including esports. The Centre houses The Hub, a large purpose built gallery on the ground floor, which features a dozen exhibitions a year of student art shows, visiting artists and interactive events. Once a year the entire Centre is turned over to an annual art festival, creating an interactive art tour through its classrooms and studios.
At North Kensington, displays often include glass-making, jewellery, ceramics and other artforms connected with the centre’s art qualifications. The centre features numerous art displays in its corridors and public areas, as well as a dedicated Morley Gallery outpost on the ground floor.
The Morley Permanent Collection
Morley Exhibitions oversees an impressive permanent art collection throughout College.
This includes a striking early painting by Bridget Riley in the Waterloo foyer, a sculpture by Sokari Douglas Camp in North Kensington’s canteen area, a large painting by John Piper in the Gustav Holst auditorium and portraits of the College’s principals painted by Maggi Hambling (who has been a highly valued member of the teaching staff at the College since the 1970s.)