David Hockney’s new tapestry, a woven rendition of his 1963 painting Play Within A Play, has been unrolled and hung in the historic Guildhall Art Gallery. Commissioned by the artist shortly before his death, the work translates his vibrant, narrative brushwork into the tactile language of hand‑woven cloth, offering visitors a fresh way to experience a classic image.

The piece anchors the upcoming exhibition Beyond Bayeux: Tapestry Now, a partnership between the gallery and Edinburgh’s Dovecot Studios. More than twenty new tapestries will be on view, created with the help of leading contemporary makers such as Sir Peter Blake, Yinka Shonibare, Tania Kovats, Alberta Whittle and Rachel Maclean, each exploring how an ancient medium can speak to today’s artistic concerns.

Organisers present tapestry not merely as historical decoration but as a living art form. As Celia Joicey of Dovecot Studios notes, the show aims to showcase the medium’s storytelling power while highlighting the skill of today’s weavers and the importance of new commissions.

Among the highlights is a six‑metre‑wide work by Turner‑Prize nominee Hurvin Anderson, destined for Oxford’s Lincoln College next year to mark its 600th anniversary. The exhibition’s five‑month run will be complemented by tours, talks and workshops that delve into the collaborative process between artists and craftsmen.

Opening on 23 October and running until 21 March, Beyond Bayeux invites the public to explore tapestry’s past and future with a pay‑what‑you‑can admission, positioning London as a hub for contemporary textile art.

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