Proceed to checkout Expand navigation Past exhibitions When Past 12 months Select a year Past 12 months 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 Filter by event type All (53) Touring exhibition (51) Online masterclass (2) Tell your personal story in graphic novel form in an afternoon on Zoom with graphic novelist Rachael Ball. Weardale Fairies © Rachael Ball 1 Afternoon online masterclass for adults (SOLD OUT) Online Masterclass: Graphic Novel Your Life 6 Mar 2021, 1:00pm - 5:00pm Explore and experiment with form, line and colour at this afternoon on Zoom with fashion illustrator Montana Forbes. Black Dress Feminine Bag © Montana Forbes Afternoon online masterclass for adults (SOLD OUT) Online Masterclass: Fashion Illustration 20 Feb 2021, 1:00pm - 5:00pm The UK’s first public exhibition dedicated solely to gay cultural icon Tom of Finland (born Touko Laaksonen) on the centenary of his birth. Untitled, from Sex on a Train, 1974 © Tom of Finland, the Tom of Finland Foundation South Gallery exhibition Tom of Finland: Love and Liberation 6 to 15 Mar 2020 The first ever retrospective of the Polish-Jewish émigré who brought European modernist aesthetics to British graphic design. Bottle labels for Schweppes, 1960 © The Estate of George Him Main Gallery exhibition George Him: A Polish Designer for Mid-Century Britain 31 Jan to 15 Mar 2020 Pioneering infographics that challenged racism in turn-of-the-century America. Distribution of Negroes in the United States, 1900, ink and watercolour © W. E. B. Du Bois South Gallery exhibition W.E.B. Du Bois: Charting Black Lives 8 Nov 2019 to 1 Mar 2020, 10:00am - 5:30pm An unprecedented exhibition of original Cuban propaganda posters and magazines. Day of the Heroic Guerilla, 1968 © Helena Serrano, OSPAAAL, The Mike Stanfield Collection Main Gallery exhibition Designed in Cuba: Cold War Graphics 27 Sep 2019 to 19 Jan 2020, 10:00am - 5:30pm Ground-breaking graphic design that transformed children’s learning, from the 1940s to today. Selected book covers, with permission of Otto and Marie Neurath Isotype Collection at University of Reading South Gallery exhibition Marie Neurath: Picturing Science 19 Jul to 3 Nov 2019, 10:00am - 5:30pm The first major UK retrospective of the celebrated comic artist and graphic novelist. Tamara Drew makes her first appearance in the revised graphic novel, 2007 © Posy Simmonds Main Gallery exhibition Posy Simmonds: A Retrospective 24 May to 15 Sep 2019, 10:00am - 5:30pm The first ever permanent space dedicated to the UK’s most celebrated illustrator. Mouse on a Tricycle, from QB Papers © Quentin Blake cropped Quentin Blake Gallery exhibition Quentin Blake: From the Studio 8 May 2019 to 15 Mar 2020, 10:00am - 5:30pm An embroidered satire on Brexit by our Illustrator in Residence. Detail from rabbit exportation artefact © collection of YiMiao Shih, photo by Justin Piperger South Gallery exhibition YiMiao Shih: Rabbrexit Means Rabbrexit 29 Mar to 14 Jul 2019, 10:00am - 5:30pm The UK's first exhibition dedicated to Bemelmans's sketches for Madeline, the classic picture book. Study for the character of Madeline © The Ludwig Bemelmans Estate Quentin Blake Gallery exhibition Ludwig Bemelmans: Sketches for Madeline 1 Mar to 28 Apr 2019, 10:00am - 5:30pm The UK’S biggest ever show of work by the pop artist, social activist and nun. Corita Kent at House of Illustration © Paul Grover Main Gallery exhibition Corita Kent: Power Up 8 Feb to 12 May 2019, 10:00am - 5:30pm An exhibition telling refugee stories, both observed and experienced first-hand. Awet © David Foldvari and Save the Children South Gallery exhibition Journeys Drawn: Illustration from the Refugee Crisis 9 Nov 2018 to 24 Mar 2019, 10:00am - 5:30pm An unprecedented insight into Quentin Blake's private practice as a figurative artist. Oil paint on canvas, 1980s © Quentin Blake Main Gallery exhibition 100 Figures: The Unseen Art of Quentin Blake 5 Oct 2018 to 27 Jan 2019, 10:00am - 6:00pm An exhibition of Quentin Blake’s first figurative drawings from the 1950s. From memory after Life Class © Quentin Blake Quentin Blake Gallery exhibition Quentin Blake: The Model as Artist 5 Oct 2018 to 24 Feb 2019, 10:00am - 6:00pm Extraordinary pen and ink illustrations for five books. Finnegans Wake © John Vernon Lord South Gallery exhibition John Vernon Lord: Illustrating Carroll and Joyce 13 Jul to 4 Nov 2018, 10:00am - 6:00pm A landmark exhibition celebrating mid-century designer Enid Marx. Selection of work by Enid Marx © Estate of Enid Marx Main Gallery exhibition Enid Marx: Print, Pattern and Popular Art 25 May to 23 Sep 2018, 10:00am - 6:00pm A tale of space travel illustrated by Quentin Blake. Voyages to the Moon and The Sun © Quentin Blake Quentin Blake Gallery exhibition Quentin Blake: Voyages to the Moon and the Sun 4 May to 30 Sep 2018, 10:00am - 6:00pm The final exhibition by our Illustrator in Residence. Sotheby's © Christy Burdock South Gallery exhibition Christy Burdock: The People in the Gallery 28 Mar to 8 Jul 2018, 10:00am - 6:00pm The UK’s first ever exhibition of graphic design from North Korea. New Year card, 2005, collection of Nicholas Bonner, image courtesy of Phaidon Main Gallery exhibition Made in North Korea: Everyday Graphics from the DPRK 23 Feb to 13 May 2018, 10:00am - 6:00pm An exhibition of Quentin Blake’s rarely-seen nudes. Arrows of Love © Quentin Blake Quentin Blake Gallery exhibition Quentin Blake: Arrows of Love 14 Feb to 29 Apr 2018, 10:00am - 6:00pm Drawings from Ridley Road Market. Outside Ka-sh fabric shop 50x70cm © Lucinda Rogers South Gallery exhibition Lucinda Rogers: On Gentrification 28 Oct 2017 to 25 Mar 2018, 10:00am - 6:00pm A celebration of Quentin Blake's lifelong collaboration with author John Yeoman. The World's Laziest Duck and Other Improbable Records (2) -® Quentin Blake CROP Quentin Blake Gallery exhibition John Yeoman and Quentin Blake: 50 Years of Children's Books 6 Oct 2017 to 4 Feb 2018, 10:00am - 6:00pm The first major exhibition of production designs by celebrated political cartoonist Gerald Scarfe. Orpheus in the Underworld - costume design -® Gerald Scarfe Main Gallery exhibition Gerald Scarfe: Stage and Screen 22 Sep 2017 to 10 Feb 2018, 10:00am - 6:00pm An exhibition by the ground-breaking 1960s illustrator, designer and entrepreneur. Illustration from The Paper-Flower Tree © Jacqueline Ayer South Gallery exhibition Jacqueline Ayer: Drawing on Thailand 16 Jun to 22 Oct 2017, 10:00am - 6:00pm The first exhibition uncovering Quentin Blake’s personal drawings of birds. Moments litteraires - Apercus Profonds © Quentin Blake Quentin Blake Gallery exhibition Quentin Blake: The Life of Birds 5 May to 1 Oct 2017, 10:00am - 6:00pm An exhibition by our Illustrators in Residence. Three Men in a Boat © Nous Vous South Gallery exhibition Nous Vous: Three Men in a Boat 18 Mar to 11 Jun 2017, 10:00am - 6:00pm A lifetime of line drawings, curated by Quentin Blake. Falklands crashed plane 1982 (c) Linda Kitson Quentin Blake Gallery exhibition Linda Kitson: Drawings and Projects 3 Mar to 30 Apr 2017, 10:00am - 6:00pm An exhibition of exceptional entries into our seventh Book Illustration Competition with The Folio Society. Mansfield Park illustration by shortlisted entrant and Visitors' Choice Award winner, Katie Ponder Katie Ponder South Gallery exhibition Book Illustration Competition Longlist 2017: Mansfield Park 11 Feb to 12 Mar 2017, 10:00am - 6:00pm Jo Brocklehurst chronicled counterculture in 1970-1990s London, Berlin and New York. (c) Estate of Jo Brocklehurst Main Gallery exhibition Jo Brocklehurst: Nobodies and Somebodies 3 Feb to 14 May 2017, 10:00am - 6:00pm The first UK exhibition of work by Laura Carlin. Detail from forest South Gallery exhibition Laura Carlin: Ceramics 13 Oct 2016 to 5 Feb 2017, 10:00am - 6:00pm The first major exhibition in 40 years of the work of Edward Ardizzone. The Model (c) Estate of Edward Ardizzone Main Gallery exhibition Ardizzone: A Retrospective 23 Sep 2016 to 22 Jan 2017, 10:00am - 6:00pm Quentin Blake's original drawings for Beatrix Potter's newly re-discovered story The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots. © Quentin Blake Quentin Blake Gallery exhibition The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots 2 Sep 2016 to 26 Feb 2017, 10:00am - 6:00pm An exhibition of never-before-seen Quentin Blake illustrations for Roald Dahl’s The BFG. (c) Quentin Blake South Gallery exhibition The BFG in Pictures 24 Jun to 2 Oct 2016, 10:00am - 6:00pm A UK first: rare picture books from 1920s-1930s Russia. Poster by Olga and Galina Chichagova Main Gallery exhibition A New Childhood: Picture Books from Soviet Russia 27 May to 11 Sep 2016, 10:00am - 6:00pm We launch our Quentin Blake Gallery with an exploration of Blake's approach to magic and surrealism. From 'Quentin Blake's Magical Tales' by John Yeoman Pavilion Books, 2010 (c) Quentin Blake Quentin Blake Gallery exhibition Seven Kinds of Magic 29 Apr to 24 Aug 2016, 10:00am - 6:00pm The first major exhibition of Japanese shōjo (girls') manga on tour in the UK. Akiko Hatsu South Gallery exhibition Shojo Manga: The World of Japanese Girls' Comics 18 Mar to 12 Jun 2016, 10:00am - 6:00pm Explore King's Cross past and present in an illuminated interactive installation created by illustrator Paddy Molloy. Photograph © Paul Grover Exterior commission Crossing Time 13 Feb to 10 Mar 2016, 6:00pm - 10:00pm The exceptional longlist for the annual competition. Folio Society books South Gallery exhibition The Book Illustration Competition Longlist 2016: War Horse 11 Feb to 6 Mar 2016, 10:00am - 6:00pm The UK’s largest ever exhibition of the work of pioneering female comics artists. © Laura Callaghan Main Gallery exhibition Comix Creatrix: 100 Women Making Comics 5 Feb to 15 May 2016, 10:00am - 6:00pm A multi-disciplinary exploration of the changing King's Cross landscape by our Illustrator in Residence. © David Lemm Display David Lemm: Mapping King's Cross 28 Jan to 6 Mar 2016, 10:00am - 6:00pm The bestselling illustrator's hand-crafted doll's house goes on display for the first time. © Paul Grover South Gallery exhibition Lauren Child's Dolls' House 30 Oct 2015 to 7 Feb 2016, 10:00am - 6:00pm The first ever exhibition of E. H. Shepard's illustrations from the trenches of the Great War. The Newcomer. “My Village, I Think?” by EH Shepard (detail). Artwork from The Shepard Trust archive. Reproduced with permission of Punch Ltd. Main Gallery exhibition E. H. Shepard: An Illustrator's War 9 Oct 2015 to 24 Jan 2016, 10:00am - 6:00pm A photographic exploration of the working spaces of leading contemporary picture book creators. © Jake Green Display Jake Green: The Bookmaker's Studio 4 Sep to 1 Nov 2015, 10:00am - 6:00pm An exhibition of over 120 original illustrations from Ladybird Books. Shopping with Mother (detail) © Ladybird Books Ltd, 1958 Reproduced by permission of Ladybird Books Ltd. Main Gallery exhibition Ladybird by Design 10 Jul to 27 Sep 2015, 10:00am - 6:00pm An exhibition of illustrated envelopes from around the world celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Penny Black stamp. © Eda Akaltun Display Pushing the Envelope 6 to 16 May 2015, 10:00am - 6:00pm Newly commissioned work from one of London's great young talents. © Hattie Stewart South Gallery exhibition Hattie Stewart: Adversary 17 Apr to 19 Jul 2015, 10:00am - 6:00pm The New York story of one of the original 'Mad Men'. Detail from How Do You Love Me © Mac Conner Main Gallery exhibition Mac Conner: A New York Life 1 Apr to 28 Jun 2015, 10:00am - 6:00pm Paula Rego exhibits a trio of recent props from her studio. © Richard Saker/The Guardian South Gallery exhibition Props by Paula Rego 26 Feb to 20 Mar 2015, 10:00am - 6:00pm Our winter show explores two of illustration's greatest storytellers. A bit of comfort Main Gallery exhibition Paula Rego/Honoré Daumier: Scandal, Gossip and Other Stories 14 Nov 2014 to 22 Mar 2015, 10:00am - 6:00pm An exhibition by our very first Illustrator in Residence, exploring the ideas of journeys and home. colour experiment 2 © Rachel Lillie Display Rachel Lillie: Odyssey 4 Nov 2014 to 11 Jan 2015, 10:00am - 6:00pm Celebrating over 50 years of Paddington on page and screen. Illustrated by Peggy Fortnum. © P & Co. Ltd. 2012 South Gallery exhibition Paddington: Illustrated and Animated 18 Oct 2014 to 4 Jan 2015, 10:00am - 6:00pm Our opening exhibition celebrates the work of Quentin Blake. From 'Clown' © Quentin Blake Main Gallery exhibition Quentin Blake: Inside Stories 2 Jul to 3 Nov 2014, 10:00am - 6:00pm
