Gilbert & George and the exhibition arc from London to Kyoto
Published on 08/31/2026 at 13:42 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Gilbert & George keep expanding their exhibition footprint, from their own London center to upcoming large-scale shows in Japan. Their long-running installations and announced museum projects underline how institutions frame the duo's collaborative practice as a sustained, public-facing presence.
Long-running shows in London
The Gilbert & George Centre in Spitalfields currently presents Our George Crompton, WORLDS and WINDOWS by Gilbert & George, described as a moving tribute to their close friend George Crompton and framed within their 'Art for All' ethos. The center opened in 2023 and offers free entry Thursday to Sunday, with highlight tours every Saturday afternoon.
Alongside the Crompton-focused show, the center has staged DEATH HOPE LIFE FEAR…, an exhibition of 18 pictures from 1984 to 1998 that remains on view until February 2026, complementing institutional presentations such as Gilbert & George: 21ST CENTURY PICTURES at the Hayward Gallery. This pairing situates early works against more recent large-format pictures in a consistent London context.
Exhibition arc and future museum tours
The Hayward Gallery's exhibition Gilbert & George: 21ST CENTURY PICTURES, running from October 7, 2025 to January 11, 2026, surveys more than 60 floor-to-ceiling pictures from the last 25 years, including series such as NEW HORNY PICTURES, THE LONDON PICTURES and THE BEARD PICTURES. The show emphasizes how digital processes have enlarged scale and complexity in their self-declared 'living sculptures' practice.
Looking beyond London, Japanese outlets and the Kyoto City Kyocera Museum have announced a major Gilbert & George Art Exhibition scheduled in the Higashiyama Cube from May 26 to August 29, 2027, followed by a run at the National Art Center, Tokyo from September 17 to December 20, 2027. This touring structure extends their institutional presence into East Asia, reflecting international interest in their pictorial language.
All news and background on Gilbert & George
Readers can follow further coverage of Gilbert & George's exhibitions and institutional projects via the AD HOC NEWS archive, which tracks their London center and international museum shows.
The collaborative practice and motifs
Gilbert Proesch and George Passmore have worked as Gilbert & George since the late 1960s, developing a collaborative identity that treats the artists themselves as 'living sculptures'. Their large-format pictures often arrange grids of photographic and graphic panels around their own bodies, layering text and urban motifs.
Key series such as THE LONDON PICTURES and THE BEARD PICTURES foreground street signage, tabloid headlines and bodily symbolism to address religion, class, sexuality and mortality within a highly structured visual field. The Gilbert & George Centre consolidates this practice by providing a dedicated venue for long-term presentations in their East End neighborhood.
Current state of the work
Against this backdrop, Gilbert & George's work is presently anchored by sustained exhibitions at their London centre and the Hayward Gallery, while preparations for the 2027 touring shows in Kyoto and Tokyo indicate continued institutional engagement without a newly announced date in the immediate 30-day window.
Gilbert & George at a glance
- Artist: Gilbert & George
- Medium / Genre: Installation-based picture-making and performance
- Born: 1943 (Gilbert Proesch, Dolomites, Italy); 1942 (George Passmore, Plymouth, United Kingdom)
- Place(s) of practice: Studio and Gilbert & George Centre in London’s East End
- Active since: Late 1960s, with early 'living sculpture' performances shown from 1969 onwards
- Key work groups: NEW HORNY PICTURES, THE LONDON PICTURES, THE BEARD PICTURES, CORPSING PICTURES
- Current/last exhibition: Our George Crompton, WORLDS and WINDOWS by Gilbert & George, Gilbert & George Centre, London, open since May 2026 and scheduled to run until 2027
- Major collections: Works by Gilbert & George are held in institutions including Tate (London), MoMA (New York) and Centre Pompidou (Paris), among other public collections.
- Awards: Among other honors, Gilbert & George received the Turner Prize in 1986 and have been recognized with major institutional retrospectives across Europe.
- Next date: Currently no announced date in the 30-day window
Frequently asked questions about Gilbert & George
Where can Gilbert & George be seen in London right now?
The Gilbert & George Centre in London’s East End is currently open Thursday to Sunday, presenting Our George Crompton, WORLDS and WINDOWS by Gilbert & George with free highlight tours on Saturdays at 4:00 PM.
What did the Hayward Gallery show in 21ST CENTURY PICTURES?
From October 7, 2025 to January 11, 2026, the Hayward Gallery exhibited more than 60 large-scale pictures from the last 25 years, including series such as NEW HORNY PICTURES, THE LONDON PICTURES and THE BEARD PICTURES.
What is planned for Gilbert & George in Japan?
The Kyoto City Kyocera Museum and the National Art Center, Tokyo have announced a large-scale Gilbert & George Art Exhibition for 2027, with runs in Kyoto from May 26 to August 29 and in Tokyo from September 17 to December 20.
This article was produced with a.i. support and editorially reviewed. All statements without guarantee; auction results, exhibition dates and awards may change at short notice.
