Leighton House has launched its centenary celebrations, marking 100 years since the historic home and studio of Victorian artist Frederic, Lord Leighton first opened as a public museum in 1926.
The anniversary programme, which began in October 2025, includes Leighton House: A Journey Through 100 Years, an exhibition that draws on rarely seen archives and photographs to chart the museum’s transformation from a private residence to a children’s library, a theatre museum, and, eventually, the restored cultural landmark it is today.
As part of the celebrations, the museum is inviting the public to contribute their own memories of Leighton House from 1926 to the present. Visitors can submit photographs, keepsakes or written, audio and video recollections, with standout stories selected for a “centenary archive” and potential inclusion in the exhibition. Submissions are open until 31 August 2025.
The programme also features new artist commissions, including Ghost Objects: Summoning Leighton’s Lost Collection by paper artist Annemarieke Kloosterhof, who has recreated four missing objects from Leighton’s original collection as intricate, life-size paper sculptures.
Alongside this, The View from Here, an exhibition presented with Durham University’s Oriental Museum, showcases contemporary art from the Middle East and North Africa exploring identity, memory and heritage.
Further centenary events will continue into Spring 2026, including a major project dedicated to Leighton House’s iconic Arab Hall, featuring a new film, contemporary interventions and new research.
Senior Curator Daniel Robbins said the programme highlights both the historic significance of Leighton House and its continued relevance today.
Lead Member Kim Taylor-Smith encouraged residents to take part in shaping the centenary archive, calling Leighton House “Kensington’s own National Treasure.”
