125th Anniversary Auction

WHITECHAPEL GALLERY LAUNCHES 125^th ANNIVERSARY ONLINE AUCTION 

In partnership with Phillips 

3-17 March 2026 

Bidding opens today for an online auction bringing together works by artists whose careers have been shaped by Whitechapel Gallery. Running from 3-17 March 2026, in partnership with Phillips, the auction marks a key moment in Whitechapel Gallery’s 125th anniversary celebrations. Proceeds from the auction will directly support the Gallery’s exhibitions and learning programmes.

Running from 3-17 March 2026, this group of works have been generously donated by artists and estates whose careers have been shaped by Whitechapel Gallery. These include Barbara Hepworth, Philip Guston, Cindy Sherman, Antony Gormley, Alfredo Jaar, Lucian Freud, Nicole Eisenman and Joy Gregory.

The sale reflects the breadth of the Gallery’s exhibition history, from post-war abstraction to contemporary global practice, and includes painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking and unique commissions.

Together, the works testify to the Gallery’s long-standing commitment to artistic experimentation and to supporting artists at pivotal stages in their development. Each donated artwork is not only a remarkable object, but an affirmation of Whitechapel Gallery’s enduring role championing some of the most radical and influential artists, art and ideas of our times.

Proceeds from the auction will directly support the Gallery’s exhibitions, commissions and participation programmes, helping to nurture artists, amplify diverse voices, and create opportunities for audiences of all backgrounds to engage with, and learn from, bold and inspiring art.

Antony Gormley, participating artist, said: “Whitechapel Gallery gave me my first solo exhibition in 1981. I have been lucky enough to have a few more since then, but it was Whitechapel Gallery that offered me that first important opportunity to realise my ambitions as a young artist. It was a turning point in my life as an artist.”

Gilane Tawadros, Director of Whitechapel Gallery, said: “Whitechapel Gallery’s history is written through the artists who have shaped it. Most of the works in this auction are connected to pivotal moments in the artists’ careers – first exhibitions, radical shifts in practice, landmark presentations. Their generosity in donating these works is both deeply moving and critically important. It allows us not only to celebrate 125 years of artistic experimentation, but also to secure Whitechapel Gallery’s pioneering and risk-taking work for future generations.” Gilane Tawadros, Whitechapel Gallery Director.

Charlotte Gibbs, Phillips’ London Head of Auctions & Specialist, Head of Evening Sale, said, “Phillips is honoured to support Whitechapel Gallery for its 125th Anniversary Gala Auction, which celebrates the extraordinary achievements of numerous artists and the Gallery’s profound impact on the contemporary art landscape. We are delighted to serve as auction partner and host a wonderful selection of works on Phillips.com, with proceeds supporting Whitechapel Gallery’s pioneering education and community programmes. Our long-standing collaboration with Whitechapel Gallery forms a key part of our global Arts Partnerships programme, through which we remain committed to championing contemporary art and culture at both local and international levels.”

Auction Works: 

Francesco Clemente (b. 1952, Italy) 
Watercolour Portrait Commission 
Clemente’s 1983 exhibition The Fourteen Stations marked one of his first major UK solo presentations, introducing London audiences to his expressive, spiritually inflected figuration. The auction offers a rare live portrait commission, an intimate encounter between artist and sitter.

Estate of Beryl Cook (1926-2008, United Kingdom) 
The Staircase (artist’s proof silkscreen) 
Cook held her first London exhibition at Whitechapel in 1976 – a turning point that propelled her exuberant depictions of everyday life into national prominence. This signed silkscreen captures the humour, vitality and social warmth that defined her practice.

Nicole Eisenman (b. 1965, France) 
Three Heads (2023), intaglio etching 
Whitechapel Gallery presented Eisenman’s first major UK retrospective in 2023, surveying three decades of politically incisive painting and sculpture. Three Heads distils her charged figuration into a psychologically intense print, balancing humour and unease.

Elmgreen & Dragset (Michael Elmgreen b. 1961, Denmark; Ingar Dragset b. 1969, Norway) 
The Journey, Fig. 2 (2022), bronze 
Their 2018 Whitechapel exhibition transformed the Gallery into a fictional public swimming pool. This patinated bronze sculpture, depicting a garden slug poised mid-journey, reflects their characteristic blend of wit, melancholy and social reflection.

Estate of Barry Flanagan (1941-2009, United Kingdom) 
Solo (2001), bronze 
Flanagan’s 1983 Whitechapel exhibition followed his representation of Britain at the Venice Biennale and consolidated his reputation. This seated hare exemplifies the vitality and mythic humour of his iconic bronze sculptures.

Lucian Freud (1922-2011, Germany) 
Bella (1982), etching 
(Donated by Catherine Lampert)
Whitechapel’s 1993 exhibition Lucian Freud: Recent Work was a landmark presentation of his mature practice. This intimate etching of his daughter demonstrates Freud’s rigorous, psychologically charged approach to portraiture.

Antony Gormley (b. 1950, United Kingdom) 
TOGETHER III (2023), walnut ink on paper 
Gormley’s first solo exhibition took place at Whitechapel Gallery in 1981. The drawing continues his lifelong exploration of the body as both physical presence and site of shared human experience.

Joy Gregory (b. 1959, United Kingdom) 
Honeymoon (1992), kallitype 
Gregory’s major 2025/26 survey at Whitechapel Gallery foregrounds four decades of work examining race, gender and representation. This photograph from The Honeymoon Project captures her delicate, emotionally charged approach to image-making.

Estate of Philip Guston (1913-1980, Canada) 
A Suite of Ten Lithographs: No.1 
Whitechapel Gallery introduced Guston’s work to UK audiences in 1963 and later staged a landmark posthumous exhibition in 1982. This lithograph extends his distinctive late figurative language into print.

Estate of Barbara Hepworth (1903-1975, United Kingdom) 
Interlocking Forms (1957), oil on board 
Hepworth’s 1954 Whitechapel Gallery exhibition was her first solo presentation in a London public gallery and was instrumental in establishing her reputation. Hepworth ultimately had two exhibitions at the gallery and recognised “how far-reaching the effects” of such exhibitions could be.

Susanna Heron (b. 1949, United Kingdom) 
Charcoal Drawing (for Still Point), 2004 
Her first exhibition of sculpture was presented at Whitechapel Gallery in 1985, establishing her distinctive approach to scale and spatial rhythm. This charcoal drawing relates to Still Point (2007), a meditative project for Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral.

Estate of Howard Hodgkin (1932-2017, United Kingdom) 
Road to Rio (2016), screenprint 
Whitechapel Gallery presented Hodgkin’s work in 1985 and honoured him as its inaugural Art Icon in 2014. This luminous print exemplifies his emotionally charged use of colour.

Alfredo Jaar (b. 1956, Chile) 
I Can’t Go On. I’ll Go On (2026), unique neon 
Following his 1992 Whitechapel Gallery exhibition, Jaar has created a new neon work for the anniversary. He reflects: “In these incredibly dark times… this statement is quite appropriate and hopeful and Whitechapel has demonstrated that it will always go on, no matter what.”

Gavin Jantjes (b. 1948, South Africa) 
Untitled (2017), from the Exogenic Series 
Whitechapel Gallery’s 2024 retrospective traced Jantjes’ role in anti-apartheid activism and institutional change. This large-scale abstract painting signals a later evolution in his practice.

Estate of Leon Kossoff (1926-2019, United Kingdom) 
Arnold Circus (2008-10), charcoal and pastel 
Kossoff’s 1972 exhibition at Whitechapel Gallery contributed to his early recognition. This drawing revisits East London through dense, expressive mark-making.

Richard Long (b. 1945, United Kingdom) 
Untitled (2006), black paint and pigment on wood 
Long’s first major UK solo exhibition took place at Whitechapel Gallery in 1971, marking a decisive moment in the reception of conceptual and land art in Britain; he later returned in 1977 and was honoured as Art Icon in 2015.  In Untitled (2006) elemental materials evoke the landscapes that define his practice.

Estate of Robert Motherwell (1915-1991, United States) 
Lithographs including America – La France Variations IX 
A 1965 Whitechapel exhibition introduced Motherwell’s work to UK audiences. These prints translate his gestural abstraction into the graphic medium.

Jacqueline Poncelet (b. 1947, Belgium) 
Straight (08) (2009), watercolour 
Her 1985 Whitechapel Gallery exhibition marked a radical shift in her practice. She recalls: “My exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery acted as the catalyst for a radical change in my work…”

Bridget Riley (b. 1931, United Kingdom) 
Large Fragment 2 (2009), screenprint on paper 
Riley was a key participant in New Generation: 1964 at Whitechapel Gallery, the influential exhibition that consolidated her reputation prior to her international breakthrough. Large Fragment 2 exemplifies her precise orchestration of form and colour.

Ugo Rondinone (b. 1964, Switzerland) 
small black white blue mountain (2025), painted stone 
Rondinone’s 2006 exhibition transformed the Gallery into a contemplative environment. This intimate sculpture echoes his monumental stacked-stone forms.

Wilhelm Sasnal (b. 1972, Poland) 
Untitled (2024), oil on canvas 
Whitechapel’s 2011 survey affirmed Sasnal’s international standing. This painting is emblematic of his work that probes history, media and memory through spare, emotionally charged imagery.

Zineb Sedira (b. 1963, France) 
Fanon and Latin America (2019), C-print 
In 2024 Whitechapel presented Dreams Have No Titles, her acclaimed Venice Biennale installation. This photomontage reflects her ongoing engagement with archive and anti-colonial histories.

Cindy Sherman (b. 1954, United States) 
Untitled (2019), photographic work 
Whitechapel’s 1991 exhibition played a crucial role in the UK reception of Sherman’s practice. This work continues her interrogation of constructed identity.

Kiki Smith (b. 1954, Germany) 
Open; Spring Bird, works on paper 
Smith’s 1995 exhibition marked a key moment in her British reception. She recalls being “slightly flabbergasted” by the opportunity to exhibit in what she described as a radical community space – an experience that proved deeply inspiring.

Emma Talbot (b. 1969, United Kingdom) 
Unbroken Bond (2023), acrylic on silk 
Talbot’s 2022 Whitechapel exhibition explored feminist storytelling and ecological survival. This silk painting continues her poetic, narrative-driven practice.

Further Experience Auction lots to be included in the Phillips online auction  

• Studio visit and lunch with Ryan Gander OBE RA

• Hidden River → Membrane → Migration: an East London walking tour with Jane and Louise Wilson

• Personal artist-led tour of Veronica Ryan: Multiple Conversations at Whitechapel Gallery plus lunch with the artist and Whitechapel Gallery Director, Gilane Tawadros 

• Acquire an experience in bronze casting and produce a bronze artwork under the guidance of master founder and artist Kabir Hussain

• Bad Pottery – Workshop with Lindsey Mendick

• Lunch and studio visit with Jeremy Deller

-Ends-

Notes to Editors  

Press Information 

For more information, interviews and images, contact:

Eleanor Gibson eleanor.gibson@reesandco.com

Auction Details 

Phillips Modern & Contemporary Art: Online Auction, London 

https://www.phillips.com/auction/UK010426

Opening 12:00pm GMT, 3 March, 2026
Closing 2:00pm GMT, 17 March, 2026

Including works from The World in Whitechapel, 125 Years of Whitechapel Gallery.

The proceeds from the sale of artworks will directly support the Whitechapel Gallery’s Exhibition and Participation Programme. This vital funding helps to nurture artists, amplify diverse voices, and create opportunities for audiences of all backgrounds to engage with, and learn from, bold and inspiring art.

Highlights from The World in Whitechapel, 125 Years of Whitechapel Gallery on view at 30 Berkeley Square, London, United Kingdom, W1J 6EX

26 February – 7 March 2026
10 March – 17 March 2026
Monday – Saturday 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Sunday 12:00 – 6:00PM

About Whitechapel Gallery’s 125^th Anniversary  

Throughout 2026 Whitechapel Gallery are celebrating their 125^th anniversary with a dynamic programme of exhibitions, commissions, special events, and community programmes.

The theme for the anniversary is The World in Whitechapel, reflecting the incredible cultural and creative diversity that meet in this distinctive area of London and paying tribute to the many migrant communities that have made it their home.

On 12 March the Gallery will be holding an Anniversary Gala, co-hosted by Whitechapel Gallery Director, Gilane Tawadros, and journalist and broadcaster Poppy Jay, with special performances by Joy Crookes and Natty Bo. For enquiries, contact vip@whitechapelgallery.org.

The 125 Gala Committee comprised:  

Jermery Achkar, Dorota Audemars, Nicholas Basden, Erin Bell, Debashis Dey, Jonny Kanagasooriam, Frances Morris, Bimpe Nkontchou, Ebele Okobi, Maria Sukkar, Dame Vivian Hunt.

The gala is generously supported by:  

Transport partner: Crozier

Champagne partner: Pommery

Wine partner: Donnafugata

Print partner: Pureprint Group

Signage partner: Omni

Paper partner: Fedrigoni

About Donnafugata: Founded in Sicily in 1983 by Giacomo and Gabriella Rallo, Donnafugata is a family-owned winery that has redefined the perception of Sicilian wine worldwide. Today led by José and Antonio Rallo, with the sixth generation already involved, the company cultivates vineyards across five territories – from Contessa Entellina and Pantelleria to Etna and Vittoria – alongside its historic Marsala cellars. Rooted in craftsmanship, sustainability and a dialogue with art, Donnafugata produces iconic wines such as Mille e una Notte and Ben Ryé, expressing the diversity, elegance and creative soul of contemporary Sicily, and welcoming over 32,000 visitors each year to its estates. Visit www.donnafugata.it/en/ for more information.

About Whitechapel Gallery

2026 marks Whitechapel Gallery’s 125th Anniversary, providing a unique opportunity to celebrate the Gallery’s groundbreaking history and set a bold agenda for the future.

Founded in 1901 with the aim to bring ‘the finest art of the world to the people of East London’, the Gallery has been responsible for bringing some of the most radical, innovative and influential artists to its East End home.

From the outset it pushed the boundaries of what a locally-focused cultural institution could do: giving voice and platform to local, national and international artists at all stages of their careers; presenting diverse practices, forms and ideas; exemplifying sector-leading learning and community outreach programmes; and being at the forefront of the global cultural scene.

From ground-breaking solo shows from artists as diverse as Barbara Hepworth (1954), Jackson Pollock (1958), Helio Oiticica (1969), Gilbert & George (1971), Eva Hesse (1979), Frida Kahlo (1982), Sonia Boyce DBE RA (1988), Sophie Calle (2010), Zarina Bhimji (2012), Emily Jacir (2015), William Kentridge (2016), Theaster Gates (2021), Nicole Eisenman (2023), Zineb Sedira (2024), Gavin Jantjes (2024), Peter Kennard (2024), Lygia Clark (2024), Sonia Boyce (2024), Donald Rodney (2025), Hamad Butt (2025) and Joy Gregory (2025) to thought-provoking group and thematic exhibitions that reflect key artistic and cultural concerns, the Gallery’s focus on bringing artists, ideas, and audiences together, remains as important today as it did over a century ago and has helped to cement the East End, as one of the world’s most exciting and diverse cultural quarters.

We are proud to be a Gallery that is locally embedded and globally connected. Our vision is to ensure Whitechapel Gallery continues to claim a distinctive and radical position in the wider social and cultural landscape, building on its pioneering history while translating and animating it for our time.

www.whitechapelgallery.org

Whitechapel Gallery is a registered charity No. 312162

Whitechapel Gallery 125 Auction Press Release