About
Dorich House Museum is located a ‘Deer’s Leap’ from Richmond Park, along Kingston Vale in South West London
House & Collections
Dora Gordine was an established artist with a clear sense of her domestic and professional needs when she and Richard Hare set about creating their new home in Kingston. Its design reflects her knowledge of modern architecture, informed by her experience as a client of the pioneering architect Auguste Perret, who designed her Paris studio-home as well as her life in Libau and Tallinn.
The house was listed Grade II for its architectural significance in 1983. Completed to Gordine’s design in 1936, Dorich House remains an exceptional example of a modern studio-house by a woman artist.
The museum holds the largest collection of Gordine’s work along with objects from Gordine and Hare’s Russian art collection. In the spirit of Gordine’s exemplary life and career, we operate as an international centre to promote and support women’s creative practice.
Gordine & Hare
Gordine and Hare enjoying tea on the roof terrace of Dorich House, Image from Historic England.
Dora Gordine (1895-1991) is a notable figure in the history of modern sculpture. Born Dora Gordin to wealthy Russian Jewish parents, her long and extraordinary life took her from her birthplace in Latvia to Estonia, Paris, Berlin, Johore and Singapore before she settled at Dorich House in 1936. Following early exhibition success in Tallinn, Gordine achieved critical acclaim in Paris in the 1920s. She became the first woman sculptor to enter the Tate collection when her Mongolian Head (1926-28) was acquired for Tate in 1928. She was elected an associate member of the Royal Society of British Sculpture in 1938, a fellow in 1949, and went on to be a founder member of the Society of Portrait Sculptors. After Hare’s premature death in 1966, Gordine turned her attention to securing the future of Dorich House as a museum.
The Hon. Richard Gilbert Hare (1907–1966) was educated at Rugby School and Balliol College, Oxford, graduating in 1929 with a first-class degree in philosophy, politics and economics. After a brief spell in the diplomatic service, Hare resigned in 1933 to travel. Marriage to Gordine in 1936 was followed by wartime work in the Anglo-Soviet relations division of the Ministry of Information. From 1947 Hare pursued an academic career at the University of London, specialising in Russian literature. Hare was an important English collector of Imperial Russian art. His final book, The Art and Artists of Russia (1965) was dedicated to Gordine and drew on objects from the couple’s Russian art collection.
Our University
As part of Kingston University we work in close collaboration with our university partner venue Stanley Picker Gallery to stage public events and exhibitions. We operate as ‘expanded studios’, where ambitious creative work is developed and shared, inspired by the enterprising spirit and global outlook of collector and arts patron Stanley Picker and artist and designer Dora Gordine who each created exemplary modernist homes and collections in Kingston, from where they pursued successful international careers.
We work inclusively to nurture and develop creative talent including our renowned Stanley Picker Fellowships in Art & Design. We provide our students with inspirational learning and professional development opportunities, and support staff research and knowledge exchange. We support and encourage creativity for personal wellbeing with our local communities, and foster connections with specialist cultural networks nationally and internationally.
Our Team
David Falkner, Director
Fiona Fisher, Curator
Natalie Kay, Participation Curator
Jaime Young, Participation Curator (maternity cover)
Glenyss Lipscombe, Development & Events Manager
Matthew Laidler, Museum Coordinator
Dorich House Museum & Stanley Picker Gallery Student Assistants: Bahar Fehresti, Bethany Green, Crosbie Cameron, Daisy Stevens, Finza Waqar, Holly Somerville, Jemimah Busingye Barigye, Katharine Cope, Kitty Kolenda, Lois Johnston, Lorna Swannell, Lucy Johnstone, Renee Rautio and Tasnim Tabassum.
Dorich House Museum Volunteers: Alex Coughlan, Jill Dampier, Nicki Davis, Margaret French, Shelley Gray, Don Grose, Frances Hadfield, Katie MacAuslan, Alison McGregor, Mary Rose Rivett-Carnac.
We are supported by an Advisory Group of university staff and external members:
Yemi Awosile, Practitioner & Stanley Picker Fellow
Kathy Curtis, Provost, Kingston University
Aoife Donnelly, Course Leader, MA Architecture, Kingston School of Art
David Falkner, Director, Stanley Picker Gallery & Dorich House Museum
Angela Ford, Practitioner & Senior Technician, Kingston School of Art
Seoyoung Kim, Curator, Kingston Museum
Stephen Pelton, Trustee, Stanley Picker Trust
Jana Scholze, Course Leader, MA Curating Contemporary Design, Kingston School of Art
Rhoddy Voremberg, Trustee, Stanley Picker Trust
Kath Wood, MBE, Arts Consultant (Advisory Group Chair)
Our Networks
Iconic Houses Network
Iconic Houses is the international network connecting architecturally significant houses and artists’ homes and studios from the 20th century that open to the public. Iconic Houses focuses on conservation, management, policy and cooperation.
The Artist's Studio Museum Network
The Artist’s Studio Museum Network connects, celebrates and champions museums in the former homes and studios of visual artists. Together, members form a creative coalition of studio museums of all shapes and sizes, sharing knowledge, ideas and best practice; promoting and supporting one another; advocating for the sector; and raising awareness of artist’s studio museums as unique and inspirational cultural destinations.
West London Museums Group
West London Museums Group provides an opportunity for museums & heritage sites in West London to work together to enhance and develop their own organisations and raise the profile of the museums offer in West London.