William Morris, Designer Extraordinary (June 2026, Online)

Join us online as we explore the life and works of William Morris: artist and artisan, businessman and poet; a visionary with an astonishing range of occupations and abilities. He could weave on a Jacquard loom, embroider, make screen prints and set type. He was an expert in vegetable dyes and manuscript illumination, he also knew the Icelandic sagas, Greek myths and Arthurian legends, and wove them into his work alongside the birds that stole his strawberries.

His determination to revive the values and craftsmanship of the past to serve the needs of the present created the Arts and Crafts Movement, shaped the taste of a generation, and formed the basis of an international design movement still alive today. He was also one of the first Marxists, speaking passionately for workers’ rights.

None of the things Morris believed were fashionable when he started believing them, yet by the time he died they had become the principles of a growing and vocal community and they form the basis of many of our modern attitudes and expectations. He is also part of the V&A’s history, not only as a frequent visitor but as designer, decorator and Art Referee, making this the perfect place for a Day School exploring his life, career and legacy.

For more details, see V&A Academy questions.


> Prefer to attend the study day in-person at V&A South Kensington? Book now for William Morris, Designer Extraordinary

Please note, the study day will not be recorded. Suitable for participants aged 18 or over.