When is the Gwen John exhibition taking place?

The Gwen John: Strange Beauties exhibition is on at the National Museum Cardiff from February 7 until June 28, 2026.

What is the significance of the Gwen John exhibition?

The exhibition marks the 150th anniversary of Gwen John's birth and aims to showcase her work, bringing together pieces from across the UK and USA for the first time.

How is Gwen John's reputation changing?

Gwen John is being reframed from a 'feminine artist' to a 'feminist artist', with new research debunking the myth of her being a reclusive spinster and highlighting her social life and determination.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Beyond the Spinster Myth: Gwen John's Bold Artistry

Beyond the Spinster Myth: Gwen John's Bold Artistry

7 Feb

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Summary

Major exhibition marks 150th anniversary of artist Gwen John's birth.
New research debunks myth of Gwen John as a reclusive spinster.
Her art, once overshadowed by her brother, gains significant recognition.

A significant exhibition at the National Museum Cardiff commemorates the 150th anniversary of Gwen John's birth, showcasing her art from February 7 to June 28, 2026. This event brings together her works from the UK and USA for the first time, accompanied by a BBC documentary.

Curators are re-examining John's oeuvre, acquired by the museum in 1976. Contrary to the historical portrayal of her as a reclusive spinster, modern biographers assert she was social and deeply engaged with the world, challenging the mythology surrounding her.

Born in 1876 in Pembrokeshire, John pursued art despite societal expectations for women of her era. Her early life was influenced by her mother, an accomplished painter, and the family's move to Tenby after her mother's death.