May Morris

May Morris (1862-1938) was a prominent figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, and her contributions as a designer, embroiderer, and educator were instrumental in advancing the role of women within the decorative arts in late nineteenth and early twentieth-century Britain. Born Mary Morris on 25 March 1862 in Bexleyheath, Kent, she was the younger daughter of William Morris, the famed designer, writer, and socialist, and Jane Morris, a noted Pre-Raphaelite muse. Growing up amidst a household frequented by luminaries such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Edward Burne-Jones, May was immersed in artistic and intellectual pursuits from an early age.

May trained at the South Kensington School of Design, now known as the Royal College of Art, where she excelled in embroidery and design. At just 23, she assumed responsibility for the embroidery department at Morris & Co., the decorative arts firm founded by her father. Under her guidance, the department flourished, known for its exquisite craftsmanship and medieval-inspired patterns. May was responsible for designing some of the firm’s most celebrated embroidered pieces, and her work was characterised by a delicate yet confident style, incorporating natural motifs and harmonious colour schemes.

In addition to her design work, May Morris was a passionate advocate for the professionalisation and recognition of women in the arts. She was a founding member of the Women’s Guild of Arts in 1907, providing a platform for female artists and designers at a time when many artistic societies excluded women. Her teaching roles at institutions like the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London helped to shape future generations of women artisans.

May’s legacy extends beyond her artistic achievements. She edited and published her father’s collected works, ensuring the preservation and dissemination of his influential ideas. Her own writings, including lectures and essays on embroidery and decorative art, contributed significantly to the theory and practice of the Arts and Crafts movement. Despite operating in the shadow of her illustrious father, May Morris established herself as a creative force in her own right, leaving a lasting impact on British design.

She died in 1938, but her work continues to be celebrated in galleries and museums, and her advocacy for women’s rights in the arts remains influential. May Morris’s life and career exemplify the ideals of the Arts and Crafts movement: a commitment to beauty, craftsmanship, and social progress.