The Manchester Tiles Letter W – The Whitworth

We love the Whitworth Art Gallery, and this Whitworth ceramic tile is our tribute to them – not to be confused with our collaboration with them. Framed by the Whitworth’s ornate moulding, the gallery building is centre stage and draped in foliage from the park that resides next door.

The illustration adopts a range of artistic lenses – to the left the building and frame are rendered with a cubist’s eye, while above the clouds and canvas liquify in a surrealist style. The Manchester University Buildings in the centre are inspired by Pop Art style, while the top right corner allows Abstract Expressionism to take over. And as you can see, it’s actually unfinished, with a brush just applying the finishing touches to the W.

Each W Tile is designed here in Manchester, then handrolled and glazed in the UK’s ceramic heartland Stoke-on-Trent, before returning for artwork firing in local Manchester kilns. A fitting end for a quintessentially Mancunian statement.

Material: Ceramic

Production: Handrolled and glazed in Stoke-on-Trent, fired in Manchester

Size: 6in x 6in.