Drawing Room

Drawing Room is the place for people of all ages and backgrounds to discover contemporary drawing.

Located in southeast London, our world-renowned organisation comprises a gallery presenting inspiring free exhibitions of drawings, by artists of international standing and emerging promise; a unique open access research library and learning space, holding one of the largest collections of titles on contemporary drawing in the world; and a shop stocking selected books, drawing materials and artists’ editions. Our dynamic engagement programme makes contemporary drawing relevant and accessible to our local communities, encouraging self-expression through hands on making. Our exhibitions, research and engagement strands, together with talks, artist-led projects, special commissions and other events, nurture talent through supporting the production of new work and share the diversity of drawing with an ever-widening audience. Together, this makes Drawing Room the UK & European centre for the exploration, appreciation and expression of the language of drawing.

Drawing Room was initiated by curators Mary Doyle, Kate Macfarlane and Katharine Stout in 2002 and is a non-profit public organisation that relies on the support of individuals, organisations and trusts, alongside the funding it receives from Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation. We are indebted to our Drawing Circle and Drawing Room Network Members and to the many artists who donate drawings to our Biennial Fundraising exhibitions, gifts that endorse the value that artists’ place on Drawing Room. Drawing Room is a division of Tannery Arts, which provides studio space, support and resources for artists, together forming Tannery Arts Ltd, a unique creative partnership