The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration has opened its doors in Clerkenwell, London, after six years of planning and construction. Housed in the historic New River Head site on Amwell Street—a building that had been empty for 70 years—the gallery features three exhibition spaces, including a permanent collection of over 100 original and rarely-seen drawings by the 93-year-old illustrator Quentin Blake. The inaugural shows include 'Quentin Blake Performance,' a new mural titled 'A Bridge to the Past' (2026), and works by Murugiah, as well as a groundbreaking exhibition on 70 years of queer comic-making.
This opening matters because it establishes the first permanent national centre dedicated to illustration in the UK, an art form that is ubiquitous yet often undervalued. The centre, championed by Blake himself and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and private philanthropists, aims to inspire visitors with new creative skills and a fresh perspective on visual storytelling. It also revitalizes a long-derelict heritage building, turning it into a cultural destination that celebrates both established and emerging illustrators.