London is set to welcome a revolutionary new art gallery dedicated entirely to the art of illustration and it’s art we’ve all grown up with.
Have you ever looked at a Roald Dahl book and thought, “who drew this delightful chaos?” That, my friend, would be Sir Quentin Blake – Britain’s most prolific illustrator. With a flick of his pen and a splash of inky anarchy, he turned words into worlds. He’s the man behind Matilda’s curious eyes, The BFG’s gangly grin, Willy Wonka and a thousand other unforgettable faces.
The world’s biggest permanent art gallery for illustrations is coming to London
Opening in 2026, the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration will be the largest permanent venue of its kind anywhere in the world. This groundbreaking gallery celebrates a dynamic and often overlooked art form that has shaped culture for centuries.
Located in Clerkenwell, the gallery will be housed in an 18th-century building that once served as waterworks. The venue will feature three distinct galleries, along with a library, learning spaces, and introductory displays designed to engage visitors of all ages with the world of illustration. Not to forget a gift shop and cafe!
Celebrating Sir Quentin Blake and his iconic work
The centre is the vision of Sir Quentin Blake, a legendary British illustrator famed for his iconic work illustrating Roald Dahl’s novels and countless children’s books over his impressive nearly 60-year career. After years of campaigning and securing £12.5 million in funding, Blake’s dream of a dedicated space to celebrate and exhibit illustration as a vital art form has become a reality.
The inaugural exhibition will showcase “MURUGIAH: Ever Feel Like…”, the first solo show of the rising star Murugiah, whose work blends Hollywood film influences, sci-fi, Japanese anime, and 2000s pop-punk aesthetics into a uniquely kaleidoscopic and sometimes macabre visual world.
Future exhibitions promise an exciting mix of rarely seen historic and contemporary works sourced internationally, as well as special items from Blake’s own private archives. Lindsey Glen, the gallery’s director, expressed her enthusiasm: “Now, there will be a place where everyone can explore this important, yet overlooked, artform, filled with imaginative exhibitions, installations, books, play and making.”