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FLOWERS is an exciting exploration of flowers' diverse and enduring role in contemporary art and culture, celebrating flowers' aesthetic appeal and a poignant reminder of their significance in human expression and cultural narratives. Spanning nine galleries across two floors, Flowers explores creative themes and media, from Roots, In Bloom, Flowers and Fashion, Science: Life & Death, and New Shoots, boasting a dynamic mix of large-scale installations, original art, photography, fashion, archival artefacts, and graphic design - all focused on flowers' profound impact on creativity and human expression. The exhibition serves as both a celebration and insightful look into floral motifs, showcasing how botanical themes have captured the imagination of artists and audiences everywhere.
Tracing the historical significance of flowers in art, from classic still lives to modern interpretations, and highlighting how flowers have symbolised beauty, transience, and function throughout various artistic movements. Featured works span a variety of mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media, innovative techniques and materials, reflecting the multifaceted nature of floral representation. The exhibition emphasises how contemporary artists explore themes such as nature's fragility, environmental issues, and cultural symbolism through floral imagery through a contemporary lens offering fresh insights into longstanding motifs.
Many of the installations in the exhibition invite you to interact and reflect, helping you connect more deeply with the emotional and psychological effects flowers have on people and society. Flowers carry different meanings in various cultures, and the exhibition explores these interpretations. The range of artistic expressions shows how flowers spark conversations about identity, beauty, and the human experience. Overall, the exhibition highlights the remarkable presence of flowers in art. It looks at how flowers have evolved over time, both as subjects of artwork and as symbols in cultural conversations.
The first room, "Roots," showcases how contemporary flower art originates in 17th and 18th-century Dutch flower paintings. It also highlights how the 19th-century Arts & Crafts movement incorporated floral designs into furniture, books, and architecture, and include William Morris textiles, Elizabeth Blackadder's hand-coloured etchings of poppies, and a vibrant pop art-style still-life by Tom Wesselmann.
"In Bloom" showcases some heavy hitters of the art world and highlights the continued fascination with flowers in contemporary art, showcasing works created over the past 30 years by renowned artists such as Gillian Ayres, Elizabeth Blackadder, Alex Katz, Gary Hume, Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama, Jeff Koons, Christo, and Marc Quinn alongside emerging creatives. There are six pieces from Michael Craig-Martin's Flower Series: Iris, Rose, Tulip, Orchid, Chrysanthemum, and Carnation from 2023, (when flowers became a fresh subject for him during the COVID lockdowns), plus, three stunning silver sculptures in the centre by Ann Carrington, crafted entirely from silverware collected from boot fairs and antique markets.
Upstairs “Flowers and Fashion” takes you into the fashion world inspired by flowers, exploring the perpetual appeal of flora. Flowers have adorned and inspired clothing and accessories, from high-street trends to haute couture. Showcasing British icons: Vivienne Westwood and Andrea Kronthaler, with pieces from Mary Quant's signature look, the five-petaled daisy, and liberty paisley, and the Finnish design house Marimekko, known for its bold floral prints, the piece de resistance is a stunning white wedding dress, with a floral décolletage neckline designed by Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli, alongside hand-carved silverware and jewellery from Buccellati. This room also features Daniel the Gardener, who uses tattoos as an art form with his freehand botanical design tattoos. Here too you will also find the ubiquitous iconic Andy Warhol floral works here.
In the stunning double-height gallery, you’ll find Rebecca Louise Law's enchanting installation, "La Fleur Morte" (Life in Death). Inspired by Egyptian funeral garlands, this piece features 100,000 dried flowers from over 40 different varieties, including Achillea, Camomile, Carnation, and many more. It creates a vibrant flower wonderland that invites you to explore a dreamlike space, and don’t forget to head upstairs for an amazing view from the balcony!
Next up is the penultimate section, Science: Life & Death, developed with the Chelsea Physic Garden. This part offers an intriguing look at the medicinal and toxic aspects of flowers, featuring botanical illustrations from the Schroder Collection. It dives into the scientific and mathematical aspects of floral structures, highlighting their importance in genetic research and ecological balance.
The exhibition wraps up with New Shoots, which showcases how contemporary artists are reimagining floral imagery through innovative techniques and fresh perspectives. This vibrant section blooms with exciting works, including some by contemporary photographers and sculptors. One standout piece is "The Machinery of Enchantment" (2025) by William Darrell, featuring flowers with a mechanical moving center that mimic how insects are attracted to flowers for pollination.
The final room is all about music, film, and literature. One side features record covers adorned with flowers, while the other displays cinema posters with floral themes. In the center, you’ll find a showcase of books that reference flowers. The area then transforms into a digital projection space featuring the pioneering work of French artist Miguel Chevalier. His virtual garden reimagines nature through digital art, engaging the audience through interactive movement.
Featured artists include:
Cristina Alcantara, Pedro Almodóvar, Nobuyoshi Araki, Nick Archer, Gillian Ayres, Jessica Backhaus, Mandy Barker, Brendan Barry, Susan Beech, Valérie Belin, Andy Bettles, Elizabeth Blackadder, John Blakemore, Jean Baptiste Bosschaert, Faye Bridgwater, Orlanda Broom, Buccellati, Olga Cafiero, Ann Carrington, Rob & Nick Carter, Miguel Chevalier, Christo, Philip Colbert, Lottie Cole, Stephanie Comilang, Sharon Core, Michael Craig-Martin, Reuben Dangoor, Lia Darjes, William Darrell, Tom de Houwer, Richard de Tscharner, Elspeth Diederix, Jim Dine, Nathalie Djurberg & Hans Berg, Ron van Dongen, Xuebing Du, Elaine Duigenan, Pamela Ellis Hawkes, Ruud van Empel, Joanna Epstein, Mary Fedden, Robert Frank, Anne von Freyburg, Erwan Frotin, Adam Fuss, Matthieu Gafsou, Kate Gibb, Grace Gillespie, Sky Glabush, Daniel Gordon, Maro Gorky, Roberto Greco, Jo Grogan, Anna Halm Schudel, Joanna Ham, Rose Electra Harris, Dan Hays, George Henry, Realf Heygate, Damien Hirst, Aimée Hoving, Gary Hume, Florence Hutchings, Mila Ilingina, Yinka Ilori, Michelle Jung, Nadav Kander, Heath Kane, Sandra Kantanen, Alex Katz, Neil Kellerhouse, Rob Kesseler, Nick Knight, Kior Ko, Jan Sebastian Koch, Irene Küng, Yayoi Kusama, Wole Lagunju, Caroline Larsen, Rebecca Louise Law, David Lebe, Laura Letinsky, Kathrin Linkersdorff, Brigitte Lustenberger, Mari Mahr, Martin Maloney, Ann Mandelbaum, Tony Matelli, Margaret Mellis, Sophie Mess, Ally McIntyre, Anastasija Michailova, Andrew Millar, Banita Mistry, Carmen Mitrotta, Abelardo Morell, William Morris, Alphonse Mucha, Vik Muniz, Galina Munroe, Takashi Murakami, Winifred Nicholson, Jesse Pollock, Janet Pulcho, Stormy Pyeatte, Marc Quinn, Dan Rawlings, Marcel Rickli, Catriona Robertson, Almudena Romero, Paul Rousteau, Andrew Salgado, Frederick Sander, Viviane Sassen, Thirza Schaap, Schiaparelli, Helene Schmitz, Martin Schoeller, Megan Seiter, Amy Shelton, Ann Shelton, David Shrigley, Niki Simpson, Chieska Smith, Paul Anthony Smith, Leonard “Soldier” Iheagwam, Rudolf Steiner, Holly Stevenson, Florent Stosskopf, Daniel The Gardener, Rebecca Thomas, Mimei Thompson, Miriam Tölke, VOYDER, Robert Walker, Tim Walker, Tom Wesselmann, Vivienne Westwood, Jo Whaley, Jess Wilson, Emma Witter, Kasia Wozniak, Nadirah Zakariya, Christina Zimpel, Victoria Zschommler, Andrew Zuckerman.
Curatorial project partners include:
Chelsea Physic Garden, Cinema Poster Gallery, The Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography (FEP), Marimekko, Mary Quant Limited, Sanderson Design Group including Morris & Co., William Morris Gallery
Supported by:
Cazenove Capital, Buccellati
Project partner:
FEP Foundation for the Exhibition of Photography