Albers’ artworks brighten children’s hospital ward

A multi-million pound art project has transformed the children’s intensive care unit at St Mary’s Hospital in London. Artworks by artist couple, Josef and Anni Albers, now fill the ward, from murals including Josef’s ‘Homage To The Square’ series, alongside bespoke bed screens and wallpaper using Anni’s distinct geometric patterns and calming colours.

A collaboration between St Mary’s hospital and the Albers Foundation, the project realises the artists’ beliefs that abstract art provides a ‘source of balance and diversion, a relief from life’s troubles’, comments Nicholas Fox Weber, Director of the foundation. Weber goes on to explain that for Anni and Josef, ‘the universal and timeless qualities of rhythm and colour brighten existence and enable people to withstand life’s greatest challenges.’

In conjunction with the artwork installation, the hospital refurbishment will almost double the number of beds and enable staff to treat an extra 200 seriously ill children every year. A fundraising campaign – the More Smiles Appeal – raised £2 million and a further grant of £2.8 million came from the Imperial Health Charity, with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust provided the remaining funds.