Dr Laura Gray Blair
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lauragrayblair.bsky.social
Dr Laura Gray Blair
@lauragrayblair.bsky.social
140 followers 190 following 21 posts
Research Manager, Science Museum Group • rare books cataloguer, National Trust • Honorary Fellow, UCL • PhD on bibliotherapy in c.19th asylums • views own
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lauragrayblair.bsky.social
Join us at the Science Museum's Dana Research Centre (28 May, 5-7:30pm) to explore how art & science cross-pollinate, with a new artwork displayed and a panel discussion w. artists, curators & historians exploring interdisciplinary research and practice. forms.office.com/e/15zSBsYbxw
A close-up image of an artwork by Varvara Keidan Shavrova, named 'The Blade', produced in 2025. The piece is made of hand-tufted Axminster yarn, etched aluminium, and steel. It is in the shape of a fan blade, and the wool is grey, blue, and pink.
May 13, 2025 at 2:43 PM
lauragrayblair.bsky.social
I find this characterisation so troubling - to use “whitewashing” to discuss decolonisation work? Communities are asking for inclusion and acknowledgement of their histories which have been excluded. It’s work which adds, not subtracts or covers.

From: www.museumsassociation.org/museums-jour...
An extract of the linked Museums Association article, reading: Holland said he felt that museums were currently going through a "process of reformation" comparable to that of the church. "What people are debating is the degree to which the founding principles of centuries before - how should we recalibrate them?", he said. "It's the equivalent of [asking] how many statues should we topple? How much whitewashing should we do?" "The reformation drew on aspects of the medieval church, but it was also conscious of, itself, overturning shibboleths, toppling icons, whitewashing where there had been paintings. And I think something similar is happening now."
March 11, 2025 at 10:58 AM
lauragrayblair.bsky.social
Watching The Repair Shop with my nan (her favourite programme). Thrilled to see Lizzie Rowe’s story shared by her brother, who brought in a lace dress which was pivotal in her art & exploration of gender identity (it also featured in the 2024 exhibition of her art ‘Lizzie Rowe: Life and Art’) 🏳️‍⚧️ 🎨
An image of Lizzie Rowe’s painting “Dysphoria”, owned by Laing Art Gallery. The painting is a self-portrait of trans artist Lizzie Rowe, who is shown in a white lace dress with her hair up in a pink bow, wearing a necklace of white beads. She is crouching in the centre of the frame, kneeling down on the wooden floor to pick up white beads which have broken from a necklace. The background is muted in colour. To the right is a record player with a record, a small television blaring bright light, and in the background an ironing board with a dress draped over, and the iron on the end of the board is smoking and on fire.
February 5, 2025 at 8:28 PM
lauragrayblair.bsky.social
After a bit over a year I’m back teaching 🥳 convening ‘Curating Science and Technology’ for UCL & teaching alongside some lovely Science Museum colleagues. First class yesterday & I was admiring this engraved trade card for Thomas Tuttell c. 1695-1702 on display in Science City (SMG 1934-123)
An image of the galleries of the Science Museum in London. There is a large open atrium which shows three floors of galleries filled with objects and displays. The building interior is mostly painted white and has metal beams running across the top with skylights above. An image of an engraved ‘trade card’ for Thomas Tuttell, a surveyor and mathematical instrument-maker, dating from around 1695-1702. The card shows many engravings of instruments.
January 17, 2025 at 2:48 PM
lauragrayblair.bsky.social
First day back at the collections store today & got to spend it with SMG photographers Andy & Josh plus fantastic students & tutors from Boomsatsuma, exploring the collection and learning about how we take very beautiful photos of our objects. (Object redacted as it’s yet to be revealed…!)
An image of a projector screen with a photograph of a black and yellow carriage, part of the Science Museum Group collection. The projector is stood in a large photo studio with black walls, with two photographers presenting to a group of students viewed from behind. Josh, a photographer wearing blue jeans and a cream jumper with a triangle pattern, stands behind a large stationary tripod in front of a photo set up. On a table is an object, surrounded by a lighting setup.
January 13, 2025 at 10:44 PM
lauragrayblair.bsky.social
Right, where are the book history folks?! I need to talk to someone about early 20th century Irish typefaces!!
November 29, 2024 at 5:55 PM