The Big Archibald Knox Event
WELCOME AND WHAT TO EXPECT
The Archibald Knox Forum (AKF) has been working with Manx National Heritage (MNH) to bring to the world the biggest Archibald Knox event ever.
The exhibition part is to be called 'Order & Beauty'. To use the full quote of Knox to his students "Aim at order, hope for beauty." It will display many rare and outstanding examples of Knox's work at the Manx Museum in Douglas, from 5th April 2025 until 1st March 2026.
Apart from the exhibition there will be:
* Talks, Films and Workshops
* The Knox Trail, launched in 2023, giving visitors the chance to visit 27 sites on the Island covering 60 of his works, designs, or details about his life.
* A series of walks allowing people to follow in Knox’s footsteps and see the scenes he sketched and painted.
VISIT
Visit the Isle of Man to gain experience and understanding of Archibald Knox the great designer and artist.
You will experience wonderful examples of his work, many currently in private collections or not on public display. You will also appreciate how this beautiful island's history, culture, spitituality and scenery inspired and motovated this great designer, artist and teacher.
BACKGROUND
In the past there have been significant exhibitions of Knox in the UK and the USA but this event will be larger, and more comprehensive. It will showcase Knox, his work and the Isle of Man to the world from the vantage point of the island's importance to his work and spirit"
AIMS
Our aim is to have the words "Archibald Knox" and "Isle of Man" linked in the same way as "Charles Rennie Mackintosh" and "Glasgow" are linked throughout the world.
For the duration of the exhibition we expect at least 5,000 worldwide “Knox enthusiast” visitors and 60,000 to 70,000 museum exhibition visitors in total.
AKF will offer expertise on Knox, source up to 60% of the exhibits and supply the bulk of the funding.
10 exhibits at the museum will be chosen from items sent in by the Manx public.
MNH will supply National Art Gallery space, negotiate with third party museums, supply exhibits, curatorial expertise and help with promotion and marketing aspects of the event.
A FEW EXAMPLES OF HIS BROAD SPECTRUM OF WORK
Please click on the small images to see more detail
Silver and enamel frame
Textile design
Photography
Garden pottery
Watercolour
Silver Jewellery
Sketches
Copper framed mirror
Pewter and enamel inkwell
Gold jewellery
Oil painting
Design for a carpet
Deer's Cry
Clock
Illuminated address for King George V
The Archibald Knox Trail
The Archibald Knox Trail has been developed using QR code technology. By using the maps shown below you can plan a visit to see 27 places of Knox interest on the Isle of Man which contain over 60 items of his work, or details about his life.
For example, Braddan New cemetery is one of the 27 places but in the cemetery are 12 graves designed by, or associated with Knox.
As the website maps are of smaller scale than the actual physical map leaflet you may have to try capturing the scan a few times before being successful.
People of the Isle of Man, and visitors, can obtain free Knox Trail leaflets at visitors' centres, hotels, public houses and libraries.
The Archibald Knox Forum wishes to thank the following sponsors who have made the project possible:
Enjoy your visit(s) and please send any feedback (positive or negative) to akforum@manx.net
Forum Mission
Mission statement
The mission of The Archibald Knox Forum is to promote the work and legacy of Archibald Knox both nationally and internationally, thus furthering the artistic and cultural history of the Isle of Man and attributing to Knox the stature of one of the greatest decorative arts designers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Read More
Knox Flyer
Archibald Knox (1864-1933) was a pioneer of modern 20th century design and art in general. For many, Archibald Knox’s decorative art in metalware is what Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Frank Lloyd Wright are in furniture and architecture. His work bridges the Arts and Crafts Movement, Celtic Revival, Art Nouveau and Modernism. He did not reject the past and could look backwards easily, yet he defined the modernist sensibility of “less is more.” As expressed by a renowned expert: Read More
Exhibitions
The Archibald Knox Forum curated ‘Archibald Knox: Artist, Designer, Teacher’ - a free exhibition at the Manx Museum.