Thelwell’s Pony Parade: A Century of Charm and Wit
Exhibition

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11 December 2023 – 7 February 2024
Living Horse Museum, Amsterdam

Curator

Commissioned by the Living Horse Museum in Amsterdam, this exhibition marked the centenary of British illustrator Norman Thelwell.

Developed in close collaboration with his son, David Thelwell, the project honoured Thelwell’s legacy and his lasting influence on equine art and visual culture.

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I was invited to curate the exhibition, shaping the selection and presentation of the works across both gallery spaces.

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Curatorial role

My role focused on structuring the exhibition as a clear and engaging narrative.

This included:

• Selecting works that represent different stages of Thelwell’s artistic development

• Framing his early work in relation to his later, more widely recognised illustrations

• Presenting insight into his process through sketchbooks, studies and personal material

• Designing the exhibition flow across two galleries to guide the visitor experience

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Curatorial perspective

Presenting the work of Norman Thelwell requires more than showing well-known imagery. It asks for a move from recognition to understanding.​ The focus of this exhibition was to move beyond the familiar humour of his work, and to position it within a broader artistic and cultural context.

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This meant bringing forward the development behind the drawings, the discipline within the line work, and the consistency of his observation over time. It also meant structuring the exhibition in a way that allowed visitors to move from early work to mature practice,
and to see the continuity across his career.

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Outcome

The exhibition was presented across two gallery spaces, combining finished illustrations with sketchbooks, studies, archival material and
a short film.

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It offered a layered view of the work, balancing accessibility with depth, and engaged both general audiences and the equestrian community.