Paul Smith to stage major exhibition in his home town

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
May 24, 2021

The UK’s lockdown easing means visitor attractions are now able to reopen and Nottingham Castle is marking its return with a Paul Smith exhibition. 

Tickets sales for the June reopening started this week with the first major exhibition at the historic site being Hello, My Name is Paul Smith, with the designer linking with the Design Museum and the castle for the exhibition.

Opening on the day that lockdown restrictions are scheduled to completely end (June 21), it features more than 1,500 objects that reflect Smith’s “personality, curiosity and energy”, as well as his signature use of coloured stripes and his success in the fashion business. It’s based on the Paul Smith exhibition that the Design Museum ran in 2013 and 2014 and should be a major draw at the castle in the heart of Smith’s original home town. 

Smith opened his first small store in Nottingham over 50 years ago and the location has been recreated alongside an immersive digital room that aims to capture what inspires him. There’s a replica of his quirky office too.

The venue has undergone a £30 million redevelopment in recent months.

Debbie Beardall, director of commercial and customer services at Nottingham Castle Trust, said: “Being able to welcome Paul Smith, one of the city’s own legends and true success stories, as the very first to grace the amazing new temporary exhibitions space is the perfect fit. With over a thousand fascinating objects on show, combined with Paul’s personal touch on the curation of the installation in his hometown, this will be an exhibition not to be missed.”