Art depicts stay at Maudsley Hospital

A collection of paintings by the late Charlotte Johnson Wahl, created during her time as a patient at south London’s Maudsley Hospital in the 1970s, is to be displayed.

The exhibition marks 50 years since the artist, who died in 2021 aged 79, spent eight months at the psychiatric hospital in Camberwell.

She was the mother of politicians Boris and Jo, journalist Rachel, and radio presenter Leo, all of whom were young children while she was an inpatient at the facility.

This winter’s exhibition will take place at the Museum of the Mind in Beckenham, which is part of the Bethlem Royal Hospital – the world’s oldest mental health institution.

During Mrs Johnson Wahl’s stay, she painted dozens of pieces depicting life at the hospital and upon her discharge went on to requisition a boardroom at the facility to exhibit her work.

She was known for her vibrant portraits but shifted to a more introspective and emotional style in these works.

They depict her personal experiences of mental health struggles, including themes of anxiety and isolation, blending a minimalist, pop-art-inspired aesthetic with subdued tones, a spokesperson for the museum said.

“These paintings are rarely seen and offer a unique insight into Johnson Wahl’s time at Maudsley,” said Colin Gale, director of Bethlem Museum of the Mind.

“They reveal her exceptional ability to observe and convey both the mundane and deeply personal aspects of psychiatric hospital life.”

Speaking in 2017, Mrs Johnson Wahl reflected on that period in her life, describing it as a “dark time” and highlighted how painting became an outlet when she could not talk about her mental health issues.

Bethlem Museum of the Mind focuses on the history and experiences of people living with mental ill-health.

The exhibition, entitled What It Felt Like: the Maudsley Hospital paintings of Charlotte Johnson Wahl, is free and opens on 11 December and runs to 29 March.