This exhibition takes its title from Charles Dickens’ 1853 work of Gothic fiction, Bleak House. Set in grim, poverty-stricken London, the novel concerns a contested Will, battled by a cast of avaricious characters. Like all of Dicken’s work, it is a morality tale of tragic proportions.

The exhibition, Bleak House – Dark Visions, sets the stage for a journey into the less explored realms of human experience, where viewers are invited to confront the darker aspects of our inner world. Curated from the National Art Glass Collection, the glass becomes a means to explore fragility, loss, memory, and the enduring power of the human spirit.

The artists featured in Bleak House – Dark Visions push the boundaries of traditional glass-making techniques. They experiment with colour, form, and texture to create works that are both visually stunning and conceptually profound. The use of dark and opaque glass, often juxtaposed with shimmering, translucent elements, creates a mesmerizing interplay of light and shadow. This deliberate use of contrast evokes a sense of mystery, suggesting an intriguing and eerie world where the boundaries between light and dark become blurred. Bleak House – Dark Visions challenges viewers to look beyond the surface, to confront the darkness within ourselves and to find beauty in the unexpected.