Swinging London: A Lifestyle Revolution

An extensive look at an innovative era in London’s history where fashion, music and art were used to demand and affect societal change.

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Swinging London: A Lifestyle Revolution presents the fashion, design and art of the Chelsea Set; a group of radical young architects, designers, photographers and artists who were redefining the concept of youth and challenging the established order in 1950s London. At the forefront of this group of young revolutionaries were Mary Quant and Terence Conran.

Swinging London: A Lifestyle Revolution will span the period from 1952-1977 and will present fashion, textiles, furniture, lighting, homewares, ceramics and ephemera in an exhibition that explores not only the style but the socioeconomic importance of this transformative period of time. Key pieces include rare and early examples of designs by Conran and Quant, plus the avant-garde artists, designers and intellectuals who worked alongside them, such as designers Bernard and Laura Ashley, sculptor Eduardo Paolozzi and artist and photographer Nigel Henderson.

PVC coats, OP Art and Space Age dresses by Mary Quant are seen alongside the early smocks, textile designs and dresses of Laura and Bernard Ashley and the modern wicker, steel and glass furniture of Terence Conran. The exhibition will also include the textiles, ceramics and furniture of Eduardo Paolozzi and Nigel Henderson, who were founding members of the Independent Group and together created innovative designs under their company, Hammer Prints, set up in 1954.

On tour

Previous tour schedule:

  • Mid-Century Modern: Art & Design from Conran to Quant, Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh, UK (15 July 2020 – 9 January 2021)

Coming soon

Textiles: The Art of Mankind

Celebrates the ancient and deep entanglement between textiles, people and our world. Exhibition tickets on sale soon, sign up to our mailing list to be the first to know.

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