We’re delighted to share that the Museum of Royal Worcester has been awarded Arts Council England funding through the Unlocking Collections programme for an exciting new two-year project, Under the Glaze: Reviewing Worcester Porcelain’s Art & Design.
This programme will bring two new contemporary art exhibitions to the museum, each inspired by Worcester’s historic collection and reimagined through a modern lens.
The first exhibition, Ornament Unbound: Tissue Transferware Reframed (September 2026 – January 2027) features artist Lisa Sheppy, who is revitalising Worcester’s pioneering transfer-printing technique using a blend of traditional research and digital processes. Drawing inspiration from the museum’s archive, the exhibition explores how historic craftsmanship can realise a new form of ceramic decoration.
Alongside the exhibition, a community outreach programme will run throughout autumn and winter, including workshops with community groups, schools and students from Heart of Worcestershire College (already underway), as well as artist in residence days where Lisa will be giving live public demonstrations and public events.
“In the archives of the Museum of Royal Worcester, romantic idylls, botanical embellishments, and intricate motifs have served as enduring sources of inspiration for the anonymous artists and designers who worked in the potteries. Drawing on my doctoral research into this collection, I am excited to present a new series of work for my exhibition, reimagining tissue transfer printing for the 21st century in response to Worcester’s archive of ceramic decoration and this remarkable collection. I also look forward to sharing this research with the public through live demonstrations, offering insight into the processes, methods, and ideas that inform my practice as both an artist and researcher.” Lisa Sheppy
In March 2027, a second exhibition will open, led by artist Matt J Smith (title tbc): (March 2027 – October 2027) Focusing on Worcester’s iconic figurines, this exhibition will explore themes of identity, representation and cultural exchange. Developed alongside a wider community programme involving former factory workers, local migrant communities and students from the University of Worcester, it will present a series of imaginative, visually striking installations that invite visitors to see these familiar objects in new ways.
“I am delighted to be working with the Museum of Royal Worcester. The factory and the collections at the museum have a very special place in the history of ceramics which provides a rich source of inspiration for contemporary artists. I am looking forward to working with the team at the museum and local groups to unpick what these historic objects can tell us about ourselves, contemporary life and views of the past. “ Matt J Smith
Across both exhibitions, visitors can expect fresh perspectives, creative responses and new ways of experiencing Worcester porcelain.
Full exhibition details and events coming soon.