An illustrated guide to the artists of Kettle’s Yard, blending biography, archival letters, and iconic works to reveal the friendships and stories behind the collection.
Kettle’s Yard Art & Artists introduces readers to the key artists represented in the Kettle’s Yard collection. It focuses on works collected by Jim and Helen Ede between 1957 and 1973, which remain on permanent display in the Kettle’s Yard House.
Organized alphabetically by artist surname, each chapter features:
- An image of the artist’s work in situ at Kettle’s Yard
- Reproductions of significant artworks from the collection
- Biographical details covering early life, education, and major achievements
- Insights into the artist’s relationship with the Edes, Kettle’s Yard, and Cambridge
The text is enriched with excerpts from Jim Ede’s writings and archival material, including letters exchanged with the artists. Conceived as a companion to the Kettle’s Yard House Guidebook ISBN 9781904561613, this publication offers an accessible introduction to the art on display at in the Kettle’s Yard house and the stories behind the artists who created it.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Dr Inga Fraser, Senior Curator, House and Collection
What are pictures?
Jim Ede
Making friends with artists: a timeline
Artists AZ:
John Blackburn (19322022)
Constantin Brâncui (18761957)
Avinash Chandra (19311991)
William Congdon (19121998)
Zoë Ellison (19161986)
Naum Gabo (18901977)
Henri Gaudier-Brzeska (18911915)
Ian Hamilton Finlay (19252006)
Barbara Hepworth (19031975)
Roger Hilton (19111975)
David Jones (18951974)
George Kennethson (19101994)
Winston McQuoid (19091984)
Ovidiu Maitec (19252007)
Joan Miró (18931983)
Henry Moore (18981986)
Ben Nicholson (18941982)
Kate Nicholson (19292019)
Simon Nicholson (19341990)
Winifred Nicholson (18931981)
David Peace (19152003)
Bryan Pearce (19292007)
Richard Pousette-Dart (19161992)
Lucie Rie (19021995)
Abani Roy (19041975)
William Scott (19131989)
William Staite Murray (18811962)
Kenji Umeda (19482019)
Italo Valenti (19121995)
Gregorio Vardanega (19232007)
Elisabeth Vellacott (19052002)
Alfred Wallis (18551942)
Edward Wolfe (18971982)
Christopher Wood (19011930)
Acknowledgements
Index
Dr Inga Fraser is a curator and art historian. She is Senior Curator at Kettles Yard, University of Cambridge, where she has curated displays including In the presence of a common object (2025-26), Mari Mahr: Lili Brik (2025) and Barbara Hepworth: 'a work of mine in your house' (2024-25). Prior to joining Kettle's Yard, she worked as a freelance Curator at Tate Britain on the current exhibition, Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970-1990. Her PhD (2016-23) was a collaborative doctoral partnership between Tate and the Royal College of Art that explored artists engagement with film in the first half of the 20th century in London, focusing on intermedial practices and the developing discourse of artists moving image. Before beginning her PhD, she was Assistant Curator of Modern British Art at Tate (2013-2017) and curated displays including Paule Vézelay (2017) and co-curated exhibitions including Paul Nash (2016) and Barbara Hepworth: Sculpture for a Modern World (2015). Gilbert McCarragher is an artist and photographer, and author of Prospect Cottage: Derek Jarmans House, published by Thames & Hudson. McCarragher is known for his refined architectural and design photography. His images are characterised by their quiet stillness, clarity and use of natural light. Over the past two decades, McCarragher has collaborated with some of the world's leading architects, designers and artists. His work has been published in numerous books and international publications, including El Croquis, Domus and John Pawson Plain Space (2010). As an artist, McCarragher works in multiple photographic mediums and has exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts, Institute of Contemporary Art (London), Jerwood Space and the Wapping Project.
