The first person appointed to the role, Will Gompertz was the BBC Art Editor from 2009 to 2021, replaced by journalist Katie Razzall. In the 12 years he spent here, he quickly became one of the country’s most prominent arts reporters, writing a weekly review for the BBC News website, and interviewing individuals such as Sir David Hockney and Sir Elton John.
Prior to being the Art Editor, he was the Director of the Tate Gallery for seven years, responsible for their website, Tate Online, the most popular art website in the UK. The site itself has won numerous awards, including a Webby and a BAFTA. He was also responsible for the Tate Etc magazine, and co-worked with ITV, Channel 4 and Aardman Animations.
In 2021, Will was named the Director of Arts and Learning at The Barbican, responsible for leading them through changes and helping them refocus on what it does now to help its future artistic vision succeed.
Will often merges his passion for art with his comedic nature. In 2009, he wrote and performed a sell-out one-man show about modern art at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
As a writer he has penned numerous articles for a range of publications, including The Times and The Guardian. He has also published three books:
What Are You Looking At? 150 Years of Modern Art in the Blink of an Eye (2012) – Providing a tour of modern art through its aesthetic appeal and financial power, looking into its movements, its artist, plus other niche facts.
Think Like An Artist (2015) – Identifying ten lessons from the greatest artists across history that can be used in our personal and professional lives to unlock creativity and success.
See What You’re Missing: 31 Ways Artists Notice the World (2023) – Looking at how the top artists, including Rembrandt, Frida Kahlo and David Hockney, can help us notice the little details in ourselves and in nature.
Will has over three decades worth of experience in senior roles across writing, critiquing, reporting and presenting. His unparalleled insight into the arts makes him the perfect unique speaker for all size events, sharing his perspective on modern art, and the importance of supporting creative and artistic disciplines.
