IN PICTURES: ‘Kingston Glamour’ showcases 50 years of art and innovation in the suburbs
As part of Kingston 2025, Kingston Glamour, an exhibition showcasing 50 years of art and innovation in the suburbs, has been running at Kingston Museum on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays since 16 May.
Curated by Ruth Brimacombe, the exhibition invites locals to discover Kingston's glamorous reputation for late night cabaret, race cars and fashion, and how it led the way in architecture and modern design.
It focuses on the 1920s to the 1970s encompassing art deco, the Ace of Spades nightclub on the Kingston Bypass, Suburban Modernism, and Mary Quant and the Singing Sixties, celebrating Kingston's starring role in the enterprising history of the suburbs.
Brimacombe told Kingston Nub News: "The idea behind the show looks at the paradox of the term "Suburban", which is often used to indicate a provincial state of mind, and a boring location characterised by an unremarkable environment when in reality, the parallel is true."
Kingston Glamour is split into nine sections following Kingston's history of glamour. The sections are:
1) "The Glamour of Kingston" which references how the opening of the Kingston Bypass in 1927 is a catalyst for the glamorous developments that follow.
2) "Glamour by Association" from the Aviation industry. This section showcases a sculpture of Louis John, a young mechanic at Hawker Siddeley, by Dora Gordine, a race car, and motoring culture.
3) "Frolics on the Kingston Bypass", showcasing the opening of the legendary Ace of Spades Roadhouse and Noel Coward's song 'Give me the Kingston bypass'.
4) 'Their Business was Glamour', showcasing the building of the Betty Joel Factory at Hook rise, which was then succeeded by Gala Cosmetics and headed up by Stanley Picker.
5) "Young Makeup, Shake-up" Gala's 1966 collaboration with Mary Quant. This section also features the role of Bentalls department store and its use of Glamour as a promotional tool and groundbreaking opening of Miss Junior department.
6) "Kingston, Fashion & The School of Art", showcasing The Community Brain's work on Daphne Brooker and her 60-year legacy of creating leading designers.
7) "Glamorous Construction", showcasing the building of Ideal Homes, Surbiton Station, and Miramonte and Dorich House (Dora Gordine's modernist studio).
8) "Modern Glamour" – This section is about the work of Kenneth Wood, architect of Picker One and Vincent House as well as Mary Quant's New York HQ.
9) "Stanley Picker: Patron of Art and Architecture", showcasing the private side of Stanley Picker with interior shots of his glamorous house on Kingston Hill built by Kenneth Wood and his founding role in the University's Stanley Picker Gallery.
Speaking about "The Glamour of Kingston", Brimacombe explained that the bypass opening is the "motif" of the show.
However, the curator added that the lead images behind Kingston's glamorous history are fashion and the car – the car referring to the Mini Cooper, which was first produced in Surbiton in 1951.
Brimacombe also mentioned that each section is linked beyond the fact that they are all about Kingston.
Having been given a guided tour of the exhibition by Brimacombe, I was amazed at hers, and everyone who helped create the exhibition, knowledge of Kingston's history – I definitely learnt a lot and was particularly interested in learning that the Bentall Centre once had a teenage department in 1947.
The layout of the exhibition was also exceptional – its racing green theme gave a glamorous Gatsby feel, perfect for an exhibition about Glamour.
I was also impressed to learn that this is the first time Betty Joel's work has been on show since 1907.
Kingston Glampur runs until 10 January 2026.
Kingston Museum's opening hours are Thursday - Saturday 10am - 5pm.
A programme of talks already announced (with more to follow) includes:
- Thursday 10 July - 6pm – 7.30pm with Carolynne Cotton.
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