Ornament Unbound: Tissue Transferware Reframed opens 10 September 2026, launching the Museum’s major two-year contemporary art programme, Under the Glaze.

The Museum of Royal Worcester is inviting audiences to see Worcester porcelain differently as it launches Under the Glaze: Re-viewing Worcester Porcelain’s Art & Design, a major new contemporary art programme exploring the connections between historic craftsmanship, creative practice and today’s artists.

The first exhibition, Ornament Unbound: Tissue Transferware Reframed, opens to the public on 10 September 2026 and features new work by Worcestershire-based interdisciplinary artist Lisa Sheppy.

Drawing on extensive research in the Museum’s collections and archives, Sheppy explores tissue transferware, a pioneering industrial printing technique first developed at the Worcester porcelain factory in the 1750s. The technique enabled intricate designs to be transferred onto ceramic surfaces and became an important part of Worcester’s celebrated decorative tradition.

For Ornament Unbound, Sheppy combines historic ceramic printing methods with 21st-century digital drawing and laser engraving, creating a new body of work that brings a historic process into contemporary artistic practice.

The exhibition offers visitors an opportunity to look beyond the finished porcelain object and discover the skills, experimentation, technology and creative decisions that lie behind it.
Lisa Sheppy said:

“Tissue transferware is a fascinating meeting point between craftsmanship, technology and cultural exchange. I am thrilled to bring this to life through my new exhibition Ornament Unbound: Tissue Transferware Reframed. I hope to open up this historic technique to new audiences and show how these skills can inspire contemporary creative practice.”

SEE THE ARTIST AT WORK


The exhibition will be accompanied by a programme of Artist in Residence days, giving visitors the opportunity to meet Lisa Sheppy, see elements of the creative process first-hand and discover how historic techniques can be transformed through contemporary approaches.

A programme of hands-on creative workshops will also invite visitors to experiment with ideas inspired by Worcester porcelain, pattern and making.

The project includes opportunities for Heart of Worcestershire College and University of Worcester students, community groups and former Royal Worcester factory workers to engage with the Museum’s collections and the contemporary artists involved.

Museum Director Kate Travers said:

“Worcester porcelain has a remarkable history of creativity, craftsmanship and innovation, and today these objects continue to inspire new ideas. Under the Glaze allows us to connect historic skills with contemporary skills and communities, creating new ways for people to explore, question and enjoy Worcester porcelain’s art and design heritage.”

FROM THE FACTORY TO THE FUTURE
Supported by the Headley Trust and Arts Council England through the National Lottery Project Grants Unlocking Collections scheme, Under the Glaze is a two-year programme running from September 2026 to October 2027.

The programme will bring together contemporary artists, students, communities and former Royal Worcester workers with the Museum’s internationally significant collection.

The Museum cares for more than 10,000 ceramic objects and over 100,000 archive records, preserving the stories of the designers, artists, craftspeople and communities behind one of Britain’s most significant porcelain manufacturers.

Following Ornament Unbound, artist Matt J Smith will create new work for the second exhibition in the programme, opening in March 2027. His project will take Worcester’s iconic figurines as a starting point for conversations about identity, representation and cultural exchange.

Kate Travers added:

“This programme gives us the opportunity to make our collections more accessible, relevant and inspiring to new audiences. By bringing together artists, communities and historic collections, we can celebrate Worcester’s porcelain heritage while exploring the questions and stories that matter today.”

 

EXHIBITION INFORMATION
Ornament Unbound: Tissue Transferware Reframed
10 September 2026 – 21 February 2027
Museum of Royal Worcester
Severn Street
Worcester
WR1 2ND

The exhibition forms part of Under the Glaze: Re-viewing Worcester Porcelain’s Art & Design, running September 2026 – October 2027.
The exhibition programme includes artist demonstrations, creative workshops and opportunities for community and student participation.

Find out more and plan your visit: museumofroyalworcester.org/whats-on