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Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration Opens in London's Clerkenwell

institutional · 2026-04-27

In May 2026, the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration is set to open in Clerkenwell, London, specifically at the historic New River Head. This venue is undergoing a £12.5 million restoration by Tim Ronalds Architects, with partial funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It will serve as the largest global center for illustration, featuring a library, gardens, recreational areas, and a modern illustration laboratory that will house Sir Quentin Blake's collection of over 40,000 original pieces. The official opening will take place on June 5, 2026, showcasing three exhibitions: 'Quentin Blake: Performance', 'Queer as Comics', and 'MURUGIAH: Ever Feel Like…'. Born in 1932, Blake, who was knighted in 2013, is celebrated for his illustrations of Roald Dahl's works and advocates for the philosophy of spontaneous drawing.

Key facts

  • Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration opens in May 2026 in Clerkenwell, London.
  • Located in the New River Head, an 18th-century waterworks complex.
  • Restoration cost £12.5 million, partly funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
  • Designed by Tim Ronalds Architects.
  • Will house over 40,000 original works by Sir Quentin Blake.
  • Inauguration on June 5, 2026, with three exhibitions: 'Quentin Blake: Performance', 'Queer as Comics', and 'MURUGIAH: Ever Feel Like…'.
  • Blake was born in Kent in 1932, knighted in 2013, and collaborated with Roald Dahl from 1978.
  • The centre includes a library, public gardens, and a laboratory for contemporary illustration.

Entities

Artists

  • Quentin Blake
  • Roald Dahl
  • Tove Jansson
  • Tom of Finland
  • Murugiah
  • John Cassidy
  • Sir John Tenniel
  • Axel Scheffler
  • Sir Quentin Blake

Institutions

  • Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration
  • Tim Ronalds Architects
  • National Lottery Heritage Fund
  • Royal College of Art
  • The Folio Society
  • Quentin Blake Center for Illustration
  • House of Illustration
  • Rugby Art Gallery and Museum
  • The Guardian

Locations

  • London
  • Clerkenwell
  • New River Head
  • Kent
  • United Kingdom
  • King's Cross
  • Great Britain

Sources