ABOUT GRAY M.C.A
GRAY M.C.A CELEBRATES AND PROMOTES THE BEAUTY, INNOVATION AND STYLE OF FASHION ILLUSTRATION, ARTIST’S TEXTILES AND DESIGN FROM THE MID 20TH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT
FASHION ILLUSTRATION
DESIGN
MODERN TEXTILES
Gray M.C.A is the leading international art gallery dedicated to original Fashion Illustration and Modern Artist Textiles and Design, presenting works by the great masters of the 20th century alongside a select group of contemporary fashion artists and designers.
Working internationally with museums, institutions, and private collectors, Gray M.C.A advises on acquisitions, conservation, and collection development, while also collaborating on major exhibitions and curatorial projects worldwide.
ORIGINAL FASHION ILLUSTRATION
Fashion illustration is more than documentation — it distils movement, mood, and style into a language of line and elegance that transcends trend. From couture and ready-to-wear to iconic campaigns, these works remain timeless and compelling. The gallery is renowned for championing the artists from the golden age of fashion illustration including Carl Erickson (1891 – 1958), Pierre Mourgue (1890 – 1969), René Bouché (1905 – 1963), René Gruau (1909 – 2004), and Antonio (1942 – 1987), as well as representing the archives of Kenneth Paul Block (1924 – 2009), Gladys Perint Palmer (1938 -), Steven Stipelman (1944 -) and Robert Melendez (1944 -). Gray M.C.A also works with leading contemporary artists including David Downton (1959 -) and Bil Donovan (1953 -), whose artistry carries the tradition of fashion illustration powerfully into the present.
Drawing on Style — curated by Gray M.C.A — is recognised internationally as the leading exhibition of fashion illustration, a landmark event in both the art and fashion calendars. Accompanied by talks and masterclasses, it celebrates the most influential illustrators past and present, cementing the importance of the genre on the global stage.
MODERN ARTIST TEXTILES
Modern Artist Textiles form a vital creative pillar in the story of Modern and Contemporary Art, reflecting the broader vision of the great modern masters of the 20th century. Gray M.C.A sources the rarest and most important examples of artist-designed textiles by figures including Ben Nicholson (1894 – 1982), Henry Moore (1898 – 1986), Pablo Picasso (1881- 1973), John Piper (1903 – 1992), Elisabeth Frink (1930 – 1993), Keith Vaughan (1912 – 1977), and William Scott (1913 – 1989), with a particular focus on the pioneering work of the Ascher Studio, Edinburgh Weavers, Liberty, and Bloomcraft from the USA.
Styled by Design — also curated by Gray M.C.A — is the definitive exhibition of Modern Artist Textiles, showcasing rare and important works by modern masters and pioneering textile studios. Recognised as a landmark event in the field, the exhibitions highlights the creative dialogue between fine art and design, with Gray M.C.A collaborating with leading institutions including New Art Centre and Messums.
DESIGN
Gray M.C.A focuses on unique sculpture and design from the mid-20th century to the present day, celebrating the intersection of fine art, craft, and modern aesthetics. Contemporary sculpture that explores material, texture, and space — highlighting the dialogue between sculptural innovation and design and contemporary painting by artists who extend the legacy of modernism into the 21st century, offering fresh interpretations of line, colour, and composition while reflecting today’s cultural and artistic landscape.
