Research

Kettle’s Yard, part of the University of Cambridge, is a leading modern and contemporary art gallery, and a unique house with a remarkable collection of twentieth-century art. From 1957 to 1973 Kettle’s Yard was the home of Jim and Helen Ede. Preserved virtually unchanged since their departure, today the house displays the Edes’ diverse collection of art, ceramics, textiles, furniture and natural objects.

Research at Kettle’s Yard is rooted in our work of preserving and interpreting our collection of twentieth century and contemporary artworks, natural objects and decorative arts, as well as the unique architectural and interior spaces in which they are placed. Exhibitions-related research in the fields of twentieth-century and contemporary art comprises a related strand of activity, and research also shapes and is developed from our innovative learning and community programmes. Research undertaken at or in partnership with Kettle’s Yard is disseminated through exhibitions and events, community engagement, through print publications and via our website.

There should be a Kettle’s Yard in every university.

— Jim Ede, 1984

If you would like to cite text or other information from the Kettle’s Yard website, we recommend following the guidance in the MHRA style guide and provide, in order:

1. Author name (on our website this can often be found in the header or footer of a text).
2. Title of page or article, in single quotation marks.
3. Platform or publisher (i.e., Kettle’s Yard).
4. Date (this appears in the header of most pages on our website).
5. URL, in angle brackets.
6. Date you accessed this page, in square brackets.

Some examples here:

Megan Breckell, ‘Sophie Gaudier-Brzeska: Image and Language’, Kettle’s Yard, 15 October 2025 <https://www.kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk/stories/sophie-gaudier-brzeska-image-and-language/> [accessed 26 November 2025].

Hassan Vawda, ‘In Search of God Through Artists: Jim and Helen Ede’s Kettle’s Yard’, Kettle’s Yard, 2025 <https://kettles-yard-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/06/V5-In-search-of-god-through-artists.pdf> [accessed 26 November 2025].

Inga Fraser, ‘Jim Ede’s Influences: Ottoline Morrell’, Kettle’s Yard, 21 March 2024 <https://www.kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk/stories/jim-edes-influences-ottoline-morrell/> [accessed 26 November 2025].