World’s biggest illustration gallery
London will open the world’s largest gallery dedicated to illustration in May — the inaugural shows will present work by more than 60 artists, including many pieces never before shown publicly. The project is being billed as a blockbuster for illustration and contemporary print culture. (timeout.com)
The new venue is named the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration and sits within the New River Head waterworks complex in Clerkenwell at 1 Myddelton Passage, EC1R 1AG. (qbcentre.org.uk) The restored heritage site contains three dedicated gallery spaces and will also open free public gardens, an illustration library, learning rooms, a café and a shop. (qbcentre.org.uk) Opening displays include a Quentin Blake exhibition showing more than 100 original works from his archive and a debut solo show by illustrator MURUGIAH titled "Ever Feel Like…". (qbcentre.org.uk) The Centre traces back to a campaign launched in 2002, operated the House of Illustration in King’s Cross from 2014–2020, and acquired the Clerkenwell site in 2019 before pandemic- and inflation-related delays affected its schedule. (ianvisits.co.uk) Project organisers completed a £12.5 million fundraising drive to fund the conversion, and restoration and conversion work on the 18th‑century buildings is being led by Tim Ronalds Architects. (ianvisits.co.uk) The Centre plans artist residencies, will accept loans from private and institutional collections including items from Blake’s own archive, and is registered as a charity under number 1095210. (finebooksmagazine.com)
