JW Anderson has unveiled five original pieces for Gwen John: Strange Beauties at National Museum Cardiff, marking the 150th anniversary of the Welsh artist’s birth. The budy designer somehow found the time amid designing 18 collection a year to reimagine the cornette, the headdress John often depicted, in modern materials and colours.
John, who converted to Catholicism in 1913, frequently explored the cornette in her watercolours and stylized studies. Anderson’s designs echo her attention to texture, colour, and form without replicating it, offering visitors a fresh three-dimensional counterpoint to her quietly powerful paintings.
The pieces will remain on display through the exhibition’s Cardiff run, blending historical depth with a modern creative perspective. Take a closer look below.
