Whitechapel Gallery
London Learn more about what's on at Whitechapel Gallery and the artists shaping its programme.Whitechapel Gallery is a public art gallery on Whitechapel High Street in East London, opened in 1901 as one of the city’s first publicly funded spaces for temporary exhibitions. Founded by social reformers Canon Samuel and Henrietta Barnett, the gallery was established to bring art and education to the working-class communities of the East End.
Over more than a century, Whitechapel Gallery has developed an international reputation for pioneering exhibitions and for supporting artists at formative stages in their careers. Historical milestones include the first UK solo shows of Mark Rothko (1961) and Frida Kahlo (1982), the seminal exhibition This Is Tomorrow exhibition (1956), which helped introduce British Pop and experimental practices to wider audiences, The New Generation (1964) which showcased then-emerging British artists such as David Hockney, Bridget Riley, and Patrick Caulfield.
In 2009, the Whitechapel Gallery expanded into the adjacent Passmore Edwards library, doubling its size and adding new spaces for archives, education, and artist residencies. Today, the gallery presents a a year-round programme of contemporary exhibitions, historic surveys, commissions, talks, films and education initiatives, with many displays and archives free to visit and a smaller number of ticketed exhibitions that help support its artistic and learning programmes.
Whitechapel Gallery FAQs
How do I find out what’s on at Whitechapel Gallery?
Current and upcoming exhibitions, displays, talks, films and learning programmes are listed on the Whitechapel Gallery’s official website. Visitors can also sign up for the Whitechapel Gallery newsletter and follow its social media channels for regular updates. For curated coverage of shows and artists, Whitechapel Gallery is profiled on Ocula.
Who are some of the artists who have shown at Whitechapel Gallery?
Whitechapel Gallery has presented exhibitions by many influential modern and contemporary artists, including Mark Rothko, Frida Kahlo, David Hockney, Bridget Riley, Gilbert & George, Richard Long, Isa Genzken and Nan Goldin, among many others.
What contemporary art galleries are nearby?
Located in East London, Whitechapel Gallery sits close to a cluster of contemporary art spaces across Whitechapel, Shoreditch and Bethnal Green. Nearby venues include The Gilbert & George Centre and commercial galleries such as Maureen Paley, Herald St and Modern Art, which can be incorporated into a wider East London gallery itinerary. Online resources such as Ocula’s London art guides can help plan a broader visit across the city’s museums, galleries and project spaces.
Can I buy artworks shown at Whitechapel Gallery?
Whitechapel Gallery is a non-profit public art institution and does not operate as a commercial gallery, so artworks in its exhibitions are not sold directly through the gallery. Many of the artists it exhibits are represented by commercial galleries, where works may be available to view or acquire, and platforms such as Ocula can assist in identifying representation and potential acquisitions. The gallery itself supports its programme through ticketed exhibitions, editions, publications and donations.
Is Whitechapel Gallery accessible?
Yes. Whitechapel Gallery provides step-free access to all public floors via a passenger lift and offers visitor wheelchairs, portable folding seats and accessible toilets, as well as baby-changing facilities. Assistance dogs are welcome, and the gallery runs regular access events including audio-described and British Sign Language–led tours and Relaxed Hour sessions, with many access events free but requiring advance booking. Large-print materials, subtitles and transcripts are available for selected exhibitions and events. Admission to the gallery’s displays, commissions and archive galleries is free, while two ticketed exhibitions each year help support the wider exhibitions and education programmes, with concessions available and complimentary tickets for carers.
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