The global art gallery portfolio is varied and diverse, with thousands of creative spaces competing for visitor interest. Yet, some unique projects stand out from the crowd and offer unrivalled experiences and design approaches. One of them is White Cube, a London gallery with an exciting history and a prominent role in the contemporary art landscape.

Philosophy of White Cube

White Cube was founded in 1993 by Jay Jopling, a British art dealer, gallerist, and cultural entrepreneur. Jopling was one of the Young British Artists, a supporter of the new conceptual turn in the art industry. From the very beginning, White Cube could hardly be called a conventional art gallery because of its provocative design approach. It undermined the gallery space tradition, which used to be decorative and densely packed with artwork in the 1990s.

The spirit of White Cube was radically different, offering a large space with pristine walls and controlled lighting. The design concept followed the “white cube” art theory, which presupposed the full absence of distraction and isolation of the displayed artwork from context to amplify its effect on the audience.

White Cube as a Globally Famous Art Gallery

The revolutionary concept of White Cube aligned with the broader intellectual change of the times and the introduction of conceptual, installation-based art practices of the 1990s. The gallery was an ideal match for artists creating monumental art, offering a space where large-scale art exhibitions were held to challenge the commercial art traditions.

Interestingly, White Cube also played a vital role in redefining the relationship between artists, galleries, and collectors at the end of the 20th century. Museum-level production practices and curatorial seriousness of White Cube’s events helped bridge the commercial and high-end art industries. This way, the entity has become one of the first fully artist-led galleries that promote creative ambitions and nurture emerging talent.

While White Cube has stretched far beyond London, with its locations found in New York, Paris, Seoul, and Hong Kong, it still bears the spirit and initial philosophy of a clean, minimalist space conducive to all forms of art and fostering an undistracted dialogue between visitors and art. The gallery offers an extensive selection of the world’s most valuable art, including works by Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Tracey Emin. Besides gallery spaces on three continents, White Cube curates off-site projects and executes full-scale online exhibition programming. It is an official representative of 60+ artists of international significance.