An upcoming exhibition at Bethlem Museum of the Mind in England aims to open up conversations about topics that were seldom discussed a generation ago. Titled “What It Felt Like: The Maudsley Hospital Paintings of Charlotte Johnson Wahl”, this collection showcases over 20 previously unseen works by the artist Charlotte Johnson Wahl, who was the late mother of former UK prime minister Boris Johnson.
Running from December 11, 2024, to March 29, 2025, the exhibition offers an intimate look into her experience as she coped with mental health challenges during a nine-month stay at London’s Maudsley Hospital in 1974.
As I learned about the exhibition, I felt drawn into Wahl’s world, imagining her experience of creating art in such a turbulent setting. Her time at Maudsley was marked by an intense battle with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a condition that left her feeling isolated and distressed. Wahl once said that painting became her way of communicating when words escaped her. As someone who has personally turned to art in difficult moments, I felt a strong connection to her approach and her choice to channel her emotions into her work.
Wahl’s paintings from this time express a complex blend of feelings. Colin Gale, the director of Bethlem Museum of the Mind, describes her works as simultaneously bold and gentle. The power of her pieces lies not only in their subject matter but also in a subtle humor that lightens scenes of emotional hardship, transforming them into explorations of daily life in a psychiatric setting. “They shed light on mental turmoil and everyday hospital life,” Gale remarks, capturing the sentiments that were often unspoken in her era.
Her granddaughter, Lara Johnson-Wheeler, also shares insights about the impact Wahl’s illness had on her family. In a piece for The Evening Standard, Lara describes how Wahl’s breakdown distanced her from her family, a pain that found expression in her artwork. Lara recalls Wahl’s deep desire to document the truth of mental health care from within. “During her stay, she completed around 80 canvases,” Lara wrote. Reading this, I was moved by the strength it must have taken for Wahl to expose her vulnerability and turn it into art.
Reflecting on this body of work, Wahl shared in an interview how painting became a healing act amid the structured routines of the hospital. “I couldn’t verbalize my struggles, but I could paint them,” she said. This sentiment resonated with me as a testament to the healing nature of art. It reminded me of my own moments of turning to creativity to process complicated feelings when words weren’t enough.
Wahl’s pieces include scenes in the hospital day room, confrontations with nursing staff, and unsettling depictions of insects on her body, offering a raw window into her mental state. These paintings capture her personal battles, filled with discomfort and a need to break free from the compulsions that ruled her life. The museum notes that her style during this period shows influences of the minimalist, pop-art inspired aesthetic of the 1970s, marked by a soft but expressive color palette.
Photo: Bethlem Museum of the Mind
Charlotte Johnson Wahl ultimately went on to build a rich life. She resumed her education, becoming the first married female undergraduate at Oxford’s Lady Margaret Hall, and established herself as a respected portrait artist, painting figures such as actress Joanna Lumley and writer Jilly Cooper. Although she passed away in 2021, her legacy lives on, offering us a glimpse into her journey through her art.
Discovering this exhibition felt like finding an untold story, one that carries the enduring message of resilience. Through her art, Wahl shares with us a profound perspective on expression as a form of survival and self-understanding.
