The Estate of Charlotte Johnson Wahl to Showcase Rarely Seen Paintings from Her Time at Maudsley Hospital
A unique and emotionally charged exhibition is set to open this winter at the Museum of the Mind in Beckenham, featuring a collection of paintings by the late artist Charlotte Johnson Wahl. These works, created during her stay at south London’s Maudsley Hospital in the 1970s, offer a glimpse into her personal struggles with mental health.
Charlotte Johnson Wahl, who passed away in 2021 at the age of 79, spent eight months at the psychiatric hospital in Camberwell, where she painted dozens of pieces reflecting life at the facility. Known for her vibrant portraits, she shifted to a more introspective and emotional style during this period, exploring themes of anxiety and isolation.
The exhibition, entitled What It Felt Like: the Maudsley Hospital paintings of Charlotte Johnson Wahl, will showcase these rarely seen works, offering a unique insight into her time at Maudsley. Colin Gale, director of Bethlem Museum of the Mind, describes the paintings as revealing Johnson Wahl’s exceptional ability to observe and convey both the mundane and deeply personal aspects of psychiatric hospital life.
Speaking about her experience at Maudsley in 2017, Johnson Wahl described it as a “dark time” and emphasized how painting became an outlet when she could not talk about her mental health issues. The exhibition aims to shed light on her journey and provide a platform for conversations around mental health.
The free exhibition opens on 11 December and runs until 29 March, inviting visitors to explore the powerful and thought-provoking works of Charlotte Johnson Wahl. Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the artistic legacy of a remarkable painter and gain a deeper understanding of her personal struggles and triumphs.
