Chisenhale Gallery

Chisenhale Gallery was founded by artists. The same experimental vision and spirit of possibility that changed an empty veneer factory and brewery warehouse into an art gallery guides our work today. We commission and produce contemporary art, supporting international and UK-based artists to make their most ambitious work to date by pursuing new directions in their practices. We are committed to our audiences having access to the energy and ideas of an ever-expanding artist community.

Chisenhale Gallery has an award winning, 38-year history as one of London’s most innovative forums for art. With a reputation for identifying new artistic talent, we believe in making cultural impact through working with artists and learning from our neighbours. We develop ideas with artists over a one- to two-year incubation period, from concept to completion.

Located in a dynamic and creative residential neighbourhood in the heart of London’s East End, where many cultures converge, Chisenhale Gallery is an evolving space for experimentation, transformed by each artist’s commission. This building is home to Chisenhale Gallery and our colleagues Chisenhale Dance Space and Chisenhale Studios.

Early exhibitions at Chisenhale Gallery included solo presentations by Chisenhale Studios artists and influential group shows including Yellow Peril: New World Asians and Essential Black Art, which featured artists Rasheed Araeen, Sonia Boyce and Mona Hatoum, among others. In the 1990s, the gallery produced the first solo exhibitions in the UK with Lubaina Himid, Rachel Whiteread, Cornelia Parker, and Wolfgang Tillmans. The gallery has commissioned major new works by artists including Faisal Abdu’Allah and David Adjaye, Anthea Hamilton, Hito Steyerl, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Ed Atkins, Helen Marten, and Camille Henrot. Most recently, Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Ima-Abasi Okon and Imran Perretta have all produced critically acclaimed commissions with Chisenhale Gallery.

We care about sustaining relationships with fellow community-based organisations. As our locality’s needs change, we look to develop ongoing projects and collaborations accordingly. Working in partnership with schools and community groups across Tower Hamlets and Hackney, we aim to uncover inspiring connections to everyday life through art.

Chisenhale Gallery is a registered charity, part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio. We fundraise for 100% of the artistic programme through trusts, foundations and individuals. You can support Chisenhale Gallery by making a donation. Please visit the Support page to find out about ways you can contribute to Chisenhale Gallery. All of our exhibitions are free.

For more information about our current and future programme, please visit our Commissions page. To find out about our past programme, please visit our Archive.