Exhibitions and Displays

Posted on 15 Oct 2025

James Leonard, Industrial Artist

25 October 2025 - 31 January 2026

The Educational Supply Association was one of the town's biggest employers for over 100 years. After the Second World War they began to make a new range of modern, clean-lined school furniture fit for the future, using skills learnt in the manufacture of Mosquito aricraft wings.

The idea started in 1944; to use scrap aluminium for school furniture. James Leonard designed it, and Johnny Appleton raised over £4m for it. The desk (X100) and chair (X200) first appeared in May 1947, the first two of six world-class designs: “The School Furniture of the Future”.

Jim Leonard’s designs are in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Vitra Museum in Germany, the Pompidou in Paris and the V&A in London. . . and now Stevenage Museum.

Thursday 23 October, 6:30 for 6:45 until 7:30pm

A chance to hear Oscar Wilson from post war british in conversation with Peter Wyeth, our guest curator, about the work of James Leonard, FSIA, chief designer at the Educational Supply Association and his ground-breaking modern designs. Peter’s book on Leonard is due to be published in 2026 by DoppelHouse Press, Los Angeles (publisher of his award-winning book on architect Jean Welz).

Book your ticket to hear the conversation - opens new window Chair X200