Studio Nyali design ‘Colour is Mine’ retrospective of the work of Althea McNish

Studio Nyali, led by Nana Biamah-Ofosu and Bushra Mohamed, have collaborated with the graphic designer Mark El-Khatib to design a landmark retrospective of the work of Althea McNish for the William Morris Gallery.

Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, McNish (1924-2020) moved to the UK in 1950, completing a postgraduate textiles degree at the Royal College of Art and rising to prominence as a Black female designer. On graduating McNish began designing bestselling furnishing and fashion fabrics for iconic firms including Liberty, Dior, Heal’s and Hull Traders, for whom she created one of her most famous patterns, Golden Harvest, in 1959. As her career progressed McNish took on major interior design projects and mural commissions around the world, as well as creating wallpapers for leading companies.

McNish’s fearless use of colour in her remarkable textile designs is celebrated in the design of the exhibition, where studio Nyali use colour and fabric to create an immersive experience. Opens April 2nd.

Nana and Bushra are both members of Register, lecturers in the Kingston School of Art, and alumni of our school.

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