Artwork
Contribution to V&A's 150th anniversary album
Contribution to V&A's 150th anniversary album is a drawing by Wendy Ramshaw. It dates from 2007 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. In June 2007 the Victoria and Albert Museum marked the 150th anniversary of its South Kensington premises.
About this work
Overview
In June 2007 the Victoria and Albert Museum marked the 150th anniversary of its South Kensington premises. To commemorate the milestone, the institution commissioned a commemorative album in which one hundred and fifty prominent figures from the fields of art, design, architecture and photography each contributed a single page.
Subject & Meaning
The contributors were invited to reflect on what aspects of the museum and its collections inspire them, expressing these ideas through a drawing, sketch, graphic, computer‑generated image or a brief textual statement.
Technique & Style
Wendy Ramshaw’s contribution takes the form of a hand‑drawn illustration, adhering to the brief’s allowance for a drawing or sketch. The page sits alongside works by other notable creators such as Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry, each employing their own visual language within the same format.
History & Provenance
Ramshaw’s page, along with the other 149 contributions, was bound into a single album that remains in the V&A’s collection. The volume serves as a documentary record of the museum’s influence on a diverse cohort of contemporary creators at the time of its sesquicentennial.
Context
The project positioned the V&A not only as a repository of historic objects but also as a source of ongoing inspiration for living artists. By soliciting personal responses from leading practitioners, the museum highlighted its role in shaping current creative practice.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wendy Anne Jopling Ramshaw was a British ceramicist, jeweller and sculptor. Her signature ringsets are in 70 public collections in both museums and art galleries.
