An interactive trail will help families explore Gwen John: Strange Beauties, the highly acclaimed exhibition at National Museum Cardiff

Paid collaboration with National Museum Cardiff

Gwen John: Strange Beauties is a landmark new exhibition at National Museum Cardiff dedicated to one of Wales’ most extraordinary artists.

It’s the first major collection of her work in more than 40 years, marking 150 years since her birth, and has been highly acclaimed by art critics, national journalists and members of the public alike.

Born in 1876, Gwen grew up in Haverfordwest and Tenby, and later lived in London and Paris. When she died in 1939, thousands of drawings and watercolours were found in her studio, and later acquired by Amgueddfa Cymru.

These sit alongside works loaned from galleries and private collectors from across the world, showing Gwen’s evolving techniques and expressive use of colour, with portraits, sketch books, letters and diaries all on display over two floors and several huge gallery rooms.

If you’re wondering if it’s suitable for families, then the answer is yes, absolutely! There’s even an interactive trail – Through Edgar’s Eyes, or Trwy Lygaid Edgar in Welsh – to help 7 to 11 year olds explore the exhibition and learn more about Gwen’s life and career with imaginative tasks based on various artworks.

Gwen had a female cat called Edgar Quinet – and Edgar has gone wandering around the exhibition, leaving paw prints at various artworks along the way. Each paw print on the map gives a little fact and gives children a little imaginative task to help them understand what they are seeing with each artwork.

You can pick up a free map at the exhibition’s entrance, download one via the QR code, or via the museum’s website in advance.

Gwen John: Strange Beauties is at National Museum Cardiff until 28 June 2026.

Adults cost from £10, children under are 16 are free.

Tickets need to be booked in advance from the National Museum Cardiff website.

General entry to the museum is free, with booking advisable. The museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays, 10am-5pm. Closed Mondays, open Bank Holiday Mondays.