Dora Carrington

Dora Carrington's artworks, letters, and drawings are used to reposition her in the history of Modern British art, demonstrating her remarkable life and work to audiences today

As a significant contributor to Modern British art during the interwar years and an associate of the Bloomsbury Group, Carrington, who preferred to be known only by her surname, was described as "the most neglected serious painter of her time" by former Tate director Sir John Rothenstein. For the first time in thirty years, Ariane Bankes and Anne Chisholm will take Dora Carrington's works, letters, and drawings and shed light on a remarkable artist who defied social norms with her radical, bohemian way of life.

This book looks at Carrington's involvement with the Bloomsbury Group, her work for the Omega Workshops, as well as her relationships with artists and writers, including one of the founding members of the Bloomsbury Group, Lytton Strachey. Although devoted to Strachey until her death, their unconventional relationship allowed Carrington to explore her sexuality and defiance of gender norms, which became a defining element of her artwork. Carrington's paintings guide this narrative throughout the book as paintings and drawings of her family, friends, and lovers at the time show glimpses into her extraordinary life, which has been overlooked for so many years.

Distributed for Pallant House Gallery

Exhibition Schedule:

Pallant House Gallery, Chichester

(9 November 2024-27 April 2025)