Iris Murdoch artworks from secret room go on display – including self-portrait
Summary
Newly found artworks by Iris Murdoch, including her only known self-portrait, surrealist landscapes, and sketches of female nudes, are going on display for the first time. These pieces were discovered in a hidden attic room at her former Oxford home and show her early artistic interests during World War II.Key Facts
- Iris Murdoch created the artworks around the start of World War II while she studied at Oxford.
- The collection includes more than 80 pieces: paintings, watercolors, sketches, and her only known self-portrait dated 1941.
- The artworks were hidden in a secret attic room behind a bookcase and had not been seen for decades.
- Dr. Miles Leeson of the University of Chichester found the artworks last year after being invited to explore Murdoch’s former home.
- Murdoch’s works show surrealism and a focus on the naked female form, reflecting her personal feelings and early bisexual identity.
- The discovery also confirmed Murdoch’s role as a visual artist beyond her well-known writing career.
- The displayed exhibition at the University of Chichester Library runs until December 10 and includes other artists linked to Murdoch’s work.
- Murdoch’s attic also contained 600 unpublished poems, including lesbian love poetry, found by Leeson in 2016.
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