House of Dreams (museum)
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The House of Dreams is a terraced house in East Dulwich transformed into the personal art museum of former textile designer and art director Stephen Wright. Wright worked on the museum in secret until the 2010s, when he began to open it to the public several days each year.[1]
Background
[edit]Wright has lived in the house since 1982, and began developing it "just as something decorative" in 1998. He initially started the work with his partner, Donald Jones, completing a mosaic in the hallway together. Jones died a few years after the couple began working on the house, as did Wright's parents, and Wright threw himself into the project as "a reponse to loss".[1] The museum is dedicated to his dreams, life and love and as a monument to his dead partner and deceased parents.[2] The museum is the subject of a BBC documentary.[3]
Wright, a fashion and textile designer,[1] has been influenced by Jarvis Cocker's work on outsider art, Bodan Litnianski and the folk arts of Mexico, South America and Asia.[4] Along with his partner, he also took trips to Maison Picassiette in Chartres, France for inspiration.[2] He has shown his work at the Halle St. Pierre in Paris.[5]
The entire ground floor, gardens and exterior has been turned into one sculpture, with rooms subdivided and every inch of the ceiling, walls, floors and space taken up. Wright lives in a flat upstairs, which is currently habitable but he aims to complete the transformation of the entire house before he dies.[6] The museum is bequeathed to The National Trust, who will take on the property after Wright's death.[5]
Wright sources the materials used in the sculptures and mosaics both at flea-markets, and also through donations from visitors to the museum.[1]
Gallery
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References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Wednesday Picture: Inside the House of Dreams, East Dulwich". Below The River. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Stephen Wright's House of Dreams". rawvision.com. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ "South London Art Map". southlondonartmap.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ henk van es (12 July 2009). "Outsider Environments Europe". outsider-environments.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ a b "Welcome to the House of Dreams". dulwichonview.org.uk. Archived from the original on 12 February 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
- ^ "Your Home is Lovely: interiors on a budget: From the archives: Introducing... artist Stephen Wright". yourhomeislovely.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
External links
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