A new exhibition celebrating the life and work of renowned Leicester textile artist Mary Linwood is now open at Leicester Museum & Art Gallery.
Mary Linwood: Art, Stitch and Life is the first major retrospective of Linwood’s work since 1945 and features 14 embroidered pieces from the Leicester Museums’ collections.
Picture credit: Mary Linwood
Also on display are new textile works by artist and exhibition curator Ruth Singer, created in response to Linwood’s life and legacy.
Born in 1755, Linwood was a pioneer of needle painting—a technique used to recreate famous artworks in thread. She gained national recognition for her embroidered versions of paintings by artists such as Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, and George Morland.
In 1809, Linwood opened her own gallery in London’s Leicester Square, the first in the capital to be run by a woman. She was also a respected educator, running a girls’ school on Belgrave Gate in Leicester.
Though widely celebrated during her lifetime, Linwood’s legacy has faded over time. This exhibition seeks to reintroduce her work to modern audiences and highlight her role as a groundbreaking figure in British art and education.
Picture credit: Mary Linwood
“This exhibition is emotional for me,” says Ruth Singer, the exhibition’s curator. “She shouldn’t be forgotten. She was important in her day, and she’s still significant for textile artists now.”
“She was fearless. She had a clear purpose,” Singer adds. “She wanted British painters and British art to be seen by more people. Her embroidery was a patriotic act.”
Mary Linwood: Art, Stitch and Life runs until 22 February 2026. Admission is free.
Stitching Events & Talks
Monthly Social Stitch Gatherings invite visitors to bring their sewing projects and join a relaxed, creative session inspired by Linwood’s work. These free drop-ins take place from 3pm to 4.30pm on:
- 22 September
- 13 October
- 10 November
- 8 December
- 12 January
Curator Ruth Singer will also give an illustrated talk, Mary Linwood Rediscovered, at Leicester’s Guildhall on Saturday 4 October at 11am.
Tickets are £10 (£8 concessions for over-65s).
