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Fiona McLees, Judith Mackrell and Lucy Wood

Gwen John: Strange Beauties

Hay Festival 2026, 

A celebration of the life and work of the quietly radical Welsh painter Gwen John on the 150th anniversary of her birth. John’s art has been an inspiration for the work and creative lives of many others, from Dior’s creative director to the Manic Street Preachers.

Conservator Fiona McLees and curator Lucy Wood discuss the lasting impact of John’s work, which is currently on display in an exhibition at Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales.

This landmark retrospective brings together John’s most celebrated pieces alongside rarely seen paintings, drawings and letters. Two accompanying books, Unseen Gwen John and Gwen John: Strange Beauties, reveal extraordinary discoveries from her studio and offer fresh insight into her quiet and strikingly modern vision.