Kettle's Yard: An Art Lover's Oasis
'The whole space offers a masterclass in the positioning and arrangement of artefacts - in the juxtaposition of lines and forms; the play of light and shadow; the sense of harmony and balance.'
As any curator or interior designer will tell you, the collection and display of artefacts is a skilled artform.
Simple things like placing a sculpture on a mantelpiece, putting a carefully arranged vase of fresh flowers on a table, or hanging a painting above a chest of drawers can transform the atmosphere of a room.
Like the objects in a still-life composition, homes can become works of art.
One of my favourite examples of this is Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge.
Bought in 1957 by the art collector Jim Ede and his wife Helen, Kettle’s Yard was four dilapidated cottages until the Edes transformed it into a home and exhibition space.
From the start, Jim, who had worked as a curator at the Tate in the 1920s and 1930s, wanted it to offer a refreshing alternative to the stuffiness and formality of traditional art museums.
He set out to create a ‘living place’ where works of art could be relaxedly enjoyed by visitors.
Every afternoon, between 2pm and 4pm, he conducted informal tours of the house.
He even lent artworks to visiting students.
One of the things that makes Kettle’s Yard such a joy to visit is its architectural design.
The alterations and extensions subtly blend the old with the new, and bathe the array of interlinked rooms in natural light.
Visitors are actively encouraged to feel at home - to relax on the chairs and sofas; or to mull around and study the artefacts around them.
The display of original artworks alongside an eclectic range of objects from nature (stones, shells, fruit, bits of wood, plants etc) works brilliantly.
I particularly love how a single lemon is always left on the pewter bowl placed in front of one of Alfred Wallis’s seascapes.
And the way one of Christopher Wood’s still life paintings is placed beside a big Moroccan pot and a wooden head-rest is so evocative.
Another great spot is the recess where a triptych of Italo Valenti’s collages are displayed above a minimalistic table.
The ceramic bowl, glass goblets, and stone fish on the table-top make it look like a shrine/altar.
The whole space offers a masterclass in the positioning and arrangement of artefacts - in the juxtaposition of lines and forms; the play of light and shadow; the sense of harmony and balance.
And I love the visual echoes - the way that the spiral of pebbles mirror the spiral staircase; the assortment of cups and chalices; the antique tables and beautiful pianos.
Although it defies mainstream labels like ‘gallery’ or ‘museum’, it is also worth pointing out that Kettle’s Yard houses an impressive collection of early-C20 artworks.
Everything from paintings by David Jones, Alfred Wallis, Ben Nicholson, and Winifred Nicholson to sculptures by Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Constantin Brâncuşi, and Henri Gaudier-Brzeska.
Jim and Helen Ede donated Kettle’s Yard to the University of Cambridge in the late-1960s.
With its café, giftshop, library, temporary exhibition rooms, and calendar of workshops and live music concerts, it’s a vibrant place.
If you haven’t visited yet, Kettle’s Yard is an absolute must next time you’re in Cambridge.
It’s so peaceful and inspiring - an oasis close to the heart of a busy city.
To learn more about Kettle’s Yard visit their website, or read Ways of Life: Jim Ede and the Kettle’s Yard Artists by Laura Freeman.
It's a wonderful place. I went there a few years ago and I now have a print of Winifred Nicholson's "Cyclamen and Primula" on my wall. I saw the original there and couldn't get it out of my head, it was so beautiful. A stunning collection. Do they still have the "pets" there? Little amorphous bits of stuffed fur on some of the furniture. Wasn't sure about those but the rest was first class! 😄
Oh I loved this place so much. Calm peaceful oasis of creativity. Thank you.