Kim Jones Curates Bloomsbury Group Exhibition for Sotheby’s: A Celebration of Radical Modernity

Inside Charleston. Lee Robbins

Kim Jones, celebrated artistic director of Dior Men’s and Fendi Womenswear, is bringing his passion for the Bloomsbury Group to Sotheby’s London. Titled “Radical Modernity: From Bloomsbury to Charleston”, the exhibition and private sale will run from November 9 to 26, offering a rare glimpse into the creative circle that challenged the conventions of Victorian Britain. Featuring an array of paintings, drawings, furniture, ceramics, and literature from Key Bloomsbury figures – Vanessa Bell, Duncan Grant, Roger Fry, Virginia Woolf, and Henry Lamb – the exhibition celebrates the revolutionary spirit of a group that forever changed the British cultural landscape.

Joanes, who was recently appointed vice president of Charleston – the Sussex estate and form home of Bell and Grant – has been a long-time admirer of the Bloomsbury Group. Lending pieces from his own collection, Jones is curating this exhibition in collaboration with the Charleston state, which operates a gallery just an hour from London. “The Bloomsbury Group was a reaction against Victorian Britain, and I love the way they shook things up – changing the way people dress and think, like the Beats or the Punks”, Jones explained. “Their spirit continues to resonate today, and it will for future generations, as people discover Duncan Grant, Vanessa Bell, Roger Fry, and their circle for themselves”.

Vanessa Bell’s “The Party.” The Charleston Trust

The exhibition promises to immerse visitors in the world of the Bloomsbury Group, with items that evoke the intellectual and artistic energy of Charleston, the Sussex farmhouse where this groundbreaking collective lived, worked, and gathered. Highlights include Duncan Grant’s self-portrait, where he dons a turban; a 1917 portrait of economist John Maynard Keynes, depicted in the Charleston garden wearing an Omega Workshops cap; and a 1923 painting by Vanessa Bell of Grant’s aunt, Lady Jane Strachey. These works not only showcase the boldness of the Bloomsbury style but also offer an intimate look at the personal connection that bound the group together.

In addition to these paintings, guests will have the unique opportunity to bid on items with personal significance to the Bloomsbury members. One of the star pieces is Bell’s “The Party”, also known as “Mrs. Dolloway’s Party”, which she gifted to her sister, Virginia Woolf. Other items include an Omega Workshop ceramic plate and an intricately embroidered silk robe by Percy Wyndham Lewis, dating back to 1913 – 1914. Each piece reflects the group’s commitment to blending art with everyday life, as well as their groundbreaking exploration of aesthetics and modernity.

Duncan Grant portrait of John Maynard Keynes. The Charleston Trust

Jones’ connection of Charleston dates back to his teenage years, when he first visited the estate at the age of 14. “It was the center of the Bloomsbury universe, down in Sussex, and it brought everyone together even now”, he recalled. For Jones, this exhibition is more than just a showcase – it’s a tribute to the Bloomsbury Group

S enduring legacy of radical modernity, one that continues to inspire and influence the worlds of fashion and art.

Through “Radical Modernity: From Bloomsbury to Charleston”, Jones not only honors the bold artistic legacy of the Bloomsbury Group but also bridges the gap between pas and present, connecting contemporary audiences to a world where art was not only created but lived. For collectors, art enthusiasts, and admirers of the Bloomsbury Group, this exhibition offers a chance to engage with pieces that encapsulate the spirit of a movement that reshaped British culture and continues to inspire those who seek to challenge norms and redefine creative expression.