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The Green Estate

We have given the Ruskin Collection at Millennium Gallery a contemporary refresh.

Author Written by Julia

It’s been a busy time for Sheffield Museums Trust; the recent merger between Museums Sheffield and Sheffield Industrial Museums has meant rolling out a new visual identity and some fresh new displays. Perhaps the most striking change can be seen at the Ruskin Collection in the Millennium Gallery. Working collaboratively with the curatorial team we devised a whole new look to refurbish this very special place. 

Starting with the Avenue graphics at the entrance of the gallery, we evolved the collage approach used for our highly popular identity for 2019’s ‘Art & Wonder’ exhibition. With hundreds of images to choose from, we were able to build a complex yet balanced image across the width of the gallery. It’s a feast for the eyes and a bit of a show-stopper that people passing through the Avenue can’t miss. (We’ll let you into a secret — there’s plans for some tasty merch based on our design so keep your eyes peeled in the gallery shop.)

Inside the gallery, the fresh, modern design of the permanent interpretation invites visitors to dip into the philosophy and beliefs of Ruskin, as relevant today as they were in his lifetime. The intro wall provides a light overview of key Ruskin facts, surrounded and enhanced by a selection of floating work, in contrast to the heavier Timorous Beasties wallpaper and mesmerising infinity case of minerals. All combine to provide a backdrop to a welcoming space where visitors can draw, write and ponder.

Around the corner you can dig a little deeper into the history with a timeline charting Ruskin’s work and the legacy it has created. This wall utilises the same soft, flowing layout of images that demonstrate the breadth of work in the collection – an important feature that complements the exhibition space behind that will house changing themed displays.

When John Ruskin founded his museum in Walkley in 1875, the intention was to bring the joy of art and nature into the lives of impoverished industrial workers of the city. Nearly 150 years later the collection continues to inspire visitors to look closer at the world around us and think carefully about how we live our lives.

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