Of House and Home: Illustrator Alice Pattullo's new solo exhibition of folklore and superstitions

Transporting you into a forgotten era, the show takes you on a journey through a Victorian household from garden to parlour, culminating with the heart of the home – a recreation of a traditional fireplace and mantelpiece. Informed by a love of historical research and the discovery of curious superstitions and rhymes surrounding the domestic every day, Pattullo’s new works introduce the modern day house dweller to parlour pastimes, homemade plant remedies, kitchen folklore and protective talismans.

The Household Lore series, a collection of black and white screen-prints, imparts worldly wisdom and old wives’ tales including Elderflower and Hawthorn which claims "hawthorn bloom and elderflowers fill the house with evil powers" and Jug which states that "it is bad luck to drink straight from a jug". The Parlour Pastimes series explores crafts traditionally practiced by Victorian women in the parlour, from shell work to feather work and letter writing to embroidery.

House Quilt, the largest work in the show made up of 100 screen-printed 'patchwork' blocks, references traditional American schoolhouse quilts and pays homage to the patchwork quilts made and collected by the artist’s mother when she was growing up. Pattullo’s personal interest in pattern, decoration and detail is evident within her work, which celebrates the beauty of everyday objects.

Even better, all works in Of House and Home are available to buy, along with a limited edition screen-print which is exclusive to and inspired by Yorkshire Sculpture Park. The artist has also created her first wallpaper design and an exclusive range of homeware for YSP Shop including an eggcup, cushion and tray.

Pattullo, based in London, has exhibited all over the UK and her clients include Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate, Gardens Illustrated Magazine, Crabtree & Evelyn, The Royal Opera House, Ditchling Museum of Art & Craft, Faber & Faber, and The Village Voice. Her debut children’s book An Animal ABC was published by Pavilion Children’s in October 2016.

Of House and Home runs from 17 June until 17 September 2017.

Main image: Alice Pattullo, Wardian Cases, 2016, courtesy the artist