The Princess of Wales has unveiled a personally curated exhibition titled ‘Makers and Creators’ at the recently opened V&A East Storehouse, offering a rare glimpse into her artistic inspirations.
Catherine has worked closely with the curatorial team at the V&A East Storehouse to select a range of historic and artistic treasures that explore how objects from the past continue to shape and inspire modern creativity in fashion, design, film, and art.
The exhibition will remain on view as part of the museum’s free self-guided experience until early 2026.
Among the items chosen by the Princess are a Victorian Morris & Co furnishing screen, which was designed by John Henry Dearle. Also featured is a costume by legendary British stage designer Oliver Messel, which was created for the character of the Fairy of the Woodland Glade and worn by ballerina Diana Vere in the Royal Ballet’s 1960 production of The Sleeping Beauty.
Other aspects of the exhibition include a watercolour painting of a forest glade by author Beatrix Potter, a medieval tile from a Somerset church, a hand-stitched Welsh quilt dating back nearly two centuries, a Chinese blue and white Qing dynasty porcelain vase (crafted between the mid-17th and early 18th century), a sculpture by Clemence Dane who was an influential early 20th-century playwright and artist and a childhood photo album belonging to Rupert Potter, father of Beatrix Potter.
In a statement accompanying the exhibition, The Princess noted how ‘Objects can tell a story. A collection of objects can create a narrative, both about our past and as inspiration for the future’.
‘This display celebrates our past makers and creators and illustrates how much historic objects can influence fashion, design, film, art and creativity today.’
‘Individual, unique objects can come together to create a collective whole that helps us to explore our social and cultural experiences and the role we play in the wider tapestry of life.’
The exhibition comes after Her Royal Highness previously visited the V&A East Storehouse, in her role as Patron of the museum and supporter of the arts, where she was given a tour of the facilities. She also met with the curatorial team and found out more about why objects are collected, and how they are cared for, conserved and displayed.
