Whitechapel Gallery

A Century of Artistic Pioneering

Founded in 1901 by Samuel and Henrietta Barnett, the Whitechapel Gallery emerged from a vision to bring great art to the people of East London. The Barnetts believed that art could educate communities and reveal the beauty of nature and substance of hope. Designed by Charles Harrison Townsend, the original building opened as one of London's first publicly funded galleries for temporary exhibitions, embodying the British Modern Style with its distinctive Arts and Crafts aesthetic. The gallery's history is marked by a series of firsts that fundamentally shaped post-war British and international art: in 1939, Picasso's masterpiece Guernica was displayed here during its only visit to Britain; in 1958, the gallery presented the first major exhibition of American abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock in the UK; and in 1970–1971, it staged the first major shows of David Hockney, Gilbert & George, and Richard Long to widespread acclaim.

Landmark Exhibitions and Cultural Impact

The gallery played a defining role in post-war British art history through exhibitions such as This is Tomorrow in 1956 and The New Generation in 1964, which introduced audiences to Bridget Riley, John Hoyland, and Patrick Caulfield. In 1961, it hosted the first UK retrospective of Mark Rothko, cementing its reputation as a venue for major artistic statements. Beyond Western contemporary art, the gallery has consistently championed diverse perspectives, including the 1908 exhibition Muhammadan Art and Life in Turkey, Persia, Egypt, Morocco and India, and more recently, the 2015 show Imperfect Chronology: Arab Art from the Modern to the Contemporary. This commitment to breadth and innovation continues through exhibitions featuring artists such as Thomas Ruff, Elmgreen & Dragset, and Mark Dion.

Architectural Evolution and Expansion

The gallery's physical form reflects its growing ambitions. The original 1901 building, though designed with incomplete elements due to budget constraints and site limitations, created a memorable sequence of spaces culminating in a broad lower gallery with a soaring vaulted hallway. In 2009, after a two-year renovation project costing approximately £13.5 million, the gallery approximately doubled in size by incorporating the adjacent former Passmore Edwards library building. This expansion, partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, created nine exhibition spaces, a fully equipped auditorium, dedicated study and studio areas, a specialist bookshop, and a café. The building now houses a full-size tapestry based on Picasso's Guernica, loaned from the United Nations Art Collection, a permanent reminder of the gallery's historic role in global artistic discourse.

Community and Contemporary Practice

Since 1932, the gallery has run an open-call exhibition for artists living and working in East London, originally called the East End Academy and now known as The London Open. For nearly 90 years, this annual show has provided a platform for local artists to exhibit publicly, fostering a direct relationship between the institution and its community. The programme has launched the careers of artists including Antony Gormley, Richard Wentworth, Cornelia Parker, and Rachel Whiteread. Today, the gallery remains embedded in one of the world's most diverse and creative quarters, balancing its role as a touchstone for international contemporary art with its commitment to East London's artistic vitality.

Access and Visitor Experience

General admission to the gallery is free, making world-class contemporary art accessible to all visitors. The ground-floor gallery, one of London's most memorable art spaces, opens directly onto Whitechapel High Street, creating an immediate connection between the street and the art within. The gallery offers free displays year-round alongside selected ticketed exhibitions. Thursday evenings feature Whitechapel Lates, providing free entry to all exhibitions between 6–9pm, extending access to working professionals and evening visitors. The onsite café Alba serves sweet and savoury options, while the bookshop, managed by Walther Koenig Books, stocks beautifully illustrated titles on modern and contemporary art, photography, architecture, and art theory.