Percy Wyndham Lewis Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Percy Wyndham Lewis was a renowned British painter and writer who made significant contributions to the literary and art world in the early 20th century. Born in 1882, Lewis was a key figure in the Vorticist movement, an avant-garde art movement that emphasized abstract geometric shapes and bold colors.

As a painter, Lewis developed a distinctive style characterized by angular, fractured forms and a futuristic aesthetic. His most famous works include “Workshop” (1914-15) and “A Battery Shelled” (1919), which vividly captured the mechanized warfare of World War I. Lewis’s paintings were exhibited widely and earned him recognition as one of the leading British artists of his time.

In addition to his visual art, Lewis was also an accomplished writer. He published several novels, including “Tarr” (1918) and “The Apes of God” (1930), which showcased his biting wit, satirical edge, and experimental prose style. Lewis’s writing often critiqued the social and political landscape of his era, earning him a reputation as a controversial and provocative figure.

From 1956 until his death in 1957, Lewis resided at 61 Palace Gardens Terrace in the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, an affluent area known for its grand Victorian townhouses and cultural institutions. The blue plaque commemorating Lewis’s time at this address was erected in 1983, celebrating his enduring legacy as a pioneering force in British modernism.

Today, Lewis’s works can be found in major collections worldwide, including the Tate Gallery in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. His innovative approach to art and literature continues to inspire and influence new generations of artists and writers.