Beautiful experience today interviewing acclaimed artist Robert Taylor reading Queerness, class and belonging in uk art collections. Revisiting ‘Permissable Beauty’ c2023 at Historic Royal Palaces was deeply moving, as was our piece in focus ‘Ebony Rose Dark’ picture here ❤️

If you literally look beyond the politics it’s a reminder of the STUNNING artwork the government has at Chequers 🙌

Lovely day working with my friends at the National Portrait Gallery full of wonder and sharing 🙌 the ‘magic’ time for me though is wandering the galleries at lunchtime, seeing works and spaces that feel like old chums I’m reunited with ❤️

Really special morning interviewing the brilliant artist Sunil Gupta exploring the intersection of social class, ethnicity, sexuality and belonging. Our starting point was the deeply moving Untitled #02 from the ‘London 1982’ series pictured at the Government Art Collection pictured here 🙌

Session 3/4 of my dementia friendly storytelling residency at The Wallace Collection ❤️ such a mindful afternoon of discovery around Jan Van Huysum ‘Flowers in a Vase’ c1726 pictured here, lovingly remade in clay over tea and laughter ⭐️

This looks BRILLIANT 🤓🙌🌈

LGBTQ+ magic last night with my friends at The National Gallery delivering a members talk on coded messages in art 🌈 a stand out in terms of emotion with the audience was Minerva and Mercury conduct the Duke of Buckingham to the Temple of Virtue Peter Paul Rubens before 1625

My lovely dementia friendly residency at The Wallace Collection continues - today an exploration of Rembrandt, light and emotion. Then playful use of pastels and blending. Such a nice vibe! Thanks to our lovely group for joining us in the storytelling and making ⭐️

A delightful morning interviewing Dame Kelly Holmes exploring being a sitter for the National Portrait Gallery 💖 together we spoke of becoming national art history, LQBTQ+ togetherness, a shared history of grown up working class, representation and uplifting others.

Find out more about artist Aaran Sian: www.instagram.com/aarancyan/?h... If you are not able to visit in person, you can view every phase of the exhibition, including the previous iteration co-curated by @jonsleigh.bsky.social, in this interactive digital exhibition: villiers.digital-exhibition.uk

Two places of worship visited this weekend - both sensational x

Heartwarming day at The Wallace Collection delivering our relaxed dementia friendly opening of the exhibition ‘Delusions of Gradure’ by Grayson Perry - delighted by how many joined us and the emotion we found in the storytelling 🥰 having the gallery to ourselves a huge luxury 🙌

A day working in my beloved brum and chance to see ‘Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White— Prints from the Rembrandt House Museum’ at Birmingham Museums Trust - beautiful, intricate and excellent storytelling.

Lovely prep day working at The Wallace Collection and time in the exhibtion ‘Delusions of Gradure’ by Grayson Perry - fascinating and immersive. Struck a cord with me on many levels, the biggest being how I project myself onto gallery spaces. Loved it 🙌

Reading this for work and I have ‘feelings’…. Excellent read and details but the innate privilege of the authors voice keeps snagging with me, especially in some of the expressions. It’s a seemingIy unchallenged confidence that I struggle to connect with. Perhaps I’m projecting. Perhaps not.

Such a lovely review of my first book with @brisunipress.bsky.social from @gem.org.uk - massive thanks to Katya Provornaya for the immensely kind words 🙌 means so much to me and made me emosh!

I remember having my mind blown as a (dim) 16 year old when my history teacher really drilled into our heads that laws are just what enough of a powerful interest group decides is right, that the law isn't infallible, and that it can be moral to oppose certain laws

Double treat today at the Government Art Collection - getting to study / some detective work in the curatorial files of Margaret ‘Peg’ Hughes by William Wissing c1685 plus choccy biscuits and giggles with the wonderful Dr Laura Popoviciu - huge thanks for the time, kindness and care in having me!

Delicious two days working in London - last night at St Marylebone Parish Church delivering a ‘sense along’ talk featuring the artwork of Benjamin Robert Haydon and then this morning at the National Portrait Gallery delivering a session on actors + playwrights - very lovely audiences in both thanks!

these Museums are trying to Educate me

A side quest of writing art gallery tours is encountering camp treats such as this book c1950’s. Less of a history resource book and more a case of being ‘sat next to an awful person on the train who won’t stop giving their opinions’… to call this florid is an understatement. Excellent side quest 🤓

Managed to pull my neck and the kindly doctor has filled me with many many drugs - taking some time off to heal, apologies and normal service will resume shortly, j x

Stunning 🤩 and this collection is magnificent if you’ve not have the pleasure of its discovery yet 👍

Obsessed with the game Two Point Museum, can’t get enough of it. You’d think it would be a busman’s holiday for me but I love it 🥰 top highlights are the passive aggressive public announcements - chefs kiss

Utterly honored and moved to led a session at The Wallace Collection today exploring and challenging the legacies of colonialism in the collection. We read as a group together both pain and inequality, but also change, intersection, inclusion and equitable futures in art. Thanks all for having me!

Beautiful review of my first book “What Are Museums For?” @museumsassociation.org - deep thanks and for making me happy cry! 🥹

Really meaningful to write this, as always I’d love to know your thoughts 🌈🙌

Find out more about Villiers Revealed here: www.meltonmuseum.org/exhibitions/...

This was lovely ☺️ 👍

If the world seems rather horrid today a reminder that this amazing piece of art / social history is in the Museum of London x

I went to this talk by Jon Sleigh at Melton Carnegie Museum last night. Fascinating presentation and exhibition! ( I need to get back to Melton at some point) 😊👍

Loved my day back at Leicestershire Museums and ‘Villiers Revealed’ - getting to share the exhibition firstly with amazing colleagues @queerhcn.org and then for an public evening talk was an utter joy. Beyond humbled and moved the exhibition is being so well received - massive thanks to all 🤓🌈🙌

Special thanks to Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery for making me well up today seeing these treasures from my childhood 🥹 so impactful seeing this curated and recognized as valuable.

Delighted to be returning to the exhibition ‘Villiers Revealed’ next week with the team at Leicestershire Museums hosting @queerhcn.org - if you are joining us please do say hi! Warm welcome promised with some queer joy 👋 🌈

Today at @thebowesmuseum.bsky.social to share thoughts with partners #TCRHub, #YMCA #TheWitham & @NHeartlands and the inspiring @jonsleigh.bsky.social about how we move forward in creating safe #queer spaces for young people in #Teesdale

I’ve had the most beautiful day @thebowesmuseum.bsky.social as keynote speaker today supporting regional creative networks 🙌 immense joy in using the collection to explore welcoming audiences on their own terms - huge thanks for having me!

Meaningful dialogue today at the Arts Council Collection / Birmingham University research symposium. Delighted to have been invited to participate and so much to ponder, unpack and apply to my own practice. Being back at The Herbert as host venue is a joy 🙌 Massive thanks for having me 🙏

Utter pleasure to interview / be reunited with artist Rachel Maclean this evening - especially enjoyed our deep dive into “Native Animals” c2019. Massive thanks for the time, warmth and care!

www.bbc.com/news/article... - as a graduate of this uni I’m devastated it’s closing. I did my BA here in Medieval History, Art and Theology - especially in the late 90’s it was a remarkable place. Unique, quirky, and responsible for producing outstanding medievalists. A massive loss.

My next @artukdotorg.bsky.social article is brewing nicely - queer legacies in art since the 1960’s 🌈 one of my many favorites is Prem Sahib ‘Stone’ c2017 in the Government Art Collection - the sink from a queer club preserved and reimagined into sculpture. Looking forward to sharing with you all!

Such a meaningful morning with The Wallace Collection and Healthy Generations - my digital tour and taste along was on social class in the collection 🙌 perfect chance to use the famous Reynolds Mrs Robinson c1783 and her extraordinary life / social trajectory. Massive thanks to all for having me!

Loved writing this 💓🌈

1/2 Six months working with the amazing @jenwilbur.bsky.social at Wolverhampton Art Gallery as community curator has concluded and it’s been magic. Together we’ve co-curated with x5 community groups to rehang key gallery spaces on their terms using work they choose.

“Lives Less Ordinary - working class Britain re-seen” at Two Temple Place gallery is STUNNING 💓huge congrats to the brilliant team. Playful, poignant, bold and kind - it’s a huge achievement wrapped in care. Very moved indeed to have been an advisor on this project. Please do go and see!

Install day at Wolverhampton Art Gallery for community choices - six months of connection, emotion, making art and selecting pieces has led us to today. Immensely proud, looking forward to sharing more soon!

An utter privilege to have worked on this exhibition as a consultant voice - I get to see it open next week and I’m thrilled. Congrats to my friends at Two Temple Place gallery, the depth of care on this exhibition exploring working class lives in art is immense. 🙌

Coffee ☕️ plus castle ruins 🏰 plus writing time ✍️ = happy me.

Lovely prep session today with the team @thebowesmuseum.bsky.social preparing for working there in feb. Delighted to be exploring inclusion, togetherness and a stunning collection 🙌

Back into the swing of the year now and being a busy bee 🐝 having cleared by post Xmas inbox and sent a tonne of emails, I’m now happily settled with a cuppa writing my next session for The Wallace Collection. Picking from treasures such as Gainsborough’s Perdita is joy 🤩

Winding down with my last meeting pre Xmas and I’m at the ‘bits and bobs’ stage for the rest of the week - sending festive joy and care to all 🎄xx