Zoé Whitley Named Director of London’s Chisenhale Gallery

Zoé Whitley will be the new leader of Chisenhale’s acclaimed exhibition and engagement programme. She has sixteen years’ experience of creating and delivering innovative and inclusive exhibition programming in some of the UK’s leading national museums and galleries.

“I’ve been inspired by Chisenhale Gallery’s programme since I first became a curator. I’m honoured to have been selected to lead its next chapter as Director and excited by the challenges and possibilities for artistic collaborations to come,” Whitley said in a statement. “I plan to build upon Chisenhale’s reputation for risk-taking and timeliness, which was synonymous with Polly’s leadership. I am dedicated to working with artists at pivotal stages in their careers; and to ensuring Chisenhale’s future programme breaks new ground creatively and resonates publicly.”

“Her exceptional record as a curator and as a champion of cultural diversity and inclusivity equip her brilliantly for the role. We look forward to working with Zoé as she sustains Chisenhale’s rich history of experimentation by delivering a dynamic new vision for the gallery.” — Alice Rawsthorn, Chisenhale Gallery

Whitley has been serving as senior curator at Hayward Gallery since April 2019. Previously, she was international curator at Tate Modern, where she co-curated with Mark Godfrey the landmark exhibition “Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power.” In 2019 the British Council appointed Zoe Whitley as curator and Cathy Wilkes as artist of the British Pavilion at the 58th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.