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The Whitechapel Gallery, originally
the East End Art Gallery, was established in the late-19th
century by Canon Samuel Barnett, the local vicar of St Jude's,
and his wife Henrietta.
The couple aimed to bring art
to the people of the East End, and the Arts and Crafts architect
Charles Harrison Townsend was commissioned to design a new
gallery.
Built in 1897 - 99, the gallery
opened to the public in 1901 and was an immediate success.
The building, with its distinctive façade, has light and airy
galleries over two floors. In 1985 the gallery underwent
a major rebuilding and refurbishment programme by Colquhorn
and Miller, re-opening the upper gallery and providing extra
space for all forms of art.
The gallery has never acquired
a permanent collection but focuses on hosting a changing programme
of exhibitions. Over the years many important artists
have been exhibited at Whitechapel.
In 1938 Picasso's 'Guernica'
was shown here as part of the 'Aid Spain' exhibition, Jackson
Pollock displayed his work at the gallery in the 1950s, David
Hockney's first show was held here in 1970 and Lucian Freud
had a major exhibition in 1993.
Today, the independent gallery
enjoys an international reputation for its series of shows
of major contemporary artists. These shows are interspersed
with exhibitions reflecting the cultural origins of the people
of the local community.
The biennial Whitechapel Open
is the only major show devoted to east London's colony of
artists.
The gallery also holds a workshop
and lecture programme.
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