The Penny Lecture season at Morley College London
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This year’s Penny Lecture season at Morley College London brought together artists, educators, and curious minds. With themes ranging from sound art to ceramics, sustainable fashion to hidden art histories.
We are delighted to publish Mario Testino’s lecture from the Spring – the Poetry of Chopin. Don’t miss the beautiful recital moments and insights from Martino – the Morley tutor who is currently recording the complete works of Chopin!
Sound = Art = Sound
As part of The Engine Room Sound Art Exhibition, the Penny Lecture season tuned into the evolving world of sound art. Composer and Morley tutor Jonathan Higgins guided the audience through the history and methods of sound-based expression, before handing over to experimental tape artist Howlround for an engaging, hands-on workshop.
Influencers reshaping ceramics – A London Craft Week special
This sold-out special event during London Craft Week featured sculptural ceramicist and Morley tutor James Evans. In Influencers Reshaping Ceramics, James reflected on the personal, historical, and artistic forces shaping his practice.
Eco couture: How to grow your own clothes
This eye-opening lecture invited audiences to discover how ordinary kitchen ingredients can be transformed into extraordinary textiles. Delivered by Lynda Kinne, Head of Visual Arts, and Jean Ross-Timmes, Fashion Technician and Tutor at Morley, Eco Couture showcased the pioneering work of Morley’s Materials Lab and BA (Hons) Fashion Design students.
With advice from the Natural History Museum, the duo shared how they’ve transformed bottles of kombucha into stitchable fabric, food waste into bioplastics, and even experimented with fungi to produce wearable materials. It was amazing to see how sustainable fashion innovation is not only possible, but happening right here at Morley.
Morley’s Murals: Art, archives and the aftermath of war
This season, this fascinating Penny Lectures came from Morley’s own archivist Elaine Andrews and celebrated artist and painting tutor Kate Wilson. Together, they took us on a journey through the incredible history of Morley’s murals.
Back in the 1930s, murals by big names like Edward Bawden, Eric Ravilious and Charles Mahoney helped put Morley on the map. But in 1940, a devastating wartime bomb destroyed the Emma Cons Hall and took the lives of 57 people – along with those now-famous artworks.
Drawing on the College’s rich archives, Elaine and Kate explored how Sir Anthony Blunt commissioned two striking new murals by Mahoney and Martin Froy – and uncovered the curious story of what became of them.
With a mix of social history, art, and a touch of detective work, this lecture painted a picture of how Morley has used creativity to heal, rebuild and inspire through the decades.
Looking ahead
From experimental soundscapes to ceramic reinvention, eco fashion to the art woven into our college walls, this season’s Penny Lectures have celebrated creativity as a force for connection and change. At Morley, we believe in the power of accessible education to inspire curiosity and community.
This year’s series did exactly that – opening doors to new knowledge, materials, and meaning.
As we close the season, we extend our thanks to all our speakers, attendees, and supporters. We look forward to welcoming you back for more Penny Lectures.
Look out for recordings of Penny Lectures on our YouTube Channel.
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