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Jenni Lomax Leaves Camden Arts Centre After 26 Years as Director
Lomax showed artists like Yinka Shonibare before their big breaks.
Brian Boucher
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After running the show at London’s Camden Arts Centre for decades, director Jenni Lomax has announced her resignation.
Founded in 1965, Camden Arts Centre was originally called Hampstead Central Library. Since taking on the role of its director in 1990, Lomax gave artists like Marlene Dumas, Kerry James Marshall, and Kara Walker their first shows in the English capital, and has won awards including the Arts Council of England/Prudential Award for Individual Achievement in the Arts (1993) and the Chevalier de l’
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Says Lomax in a press release:
It has been an amazing privilege over the past 26 years to work with so many artists, colleagues, supporters, friends and neighbours! All of whom have helped make Camden Arts Centre a special place and joy to work in. Leaving is a big step but I am very much looking forward to pursuing personal projects and hope to be able to use my many years of experience to benefit the future of the arts and education.
Lomax also gave early breaks to English artists like Martin Creed, whose 2000–01 show at Camden Arts Centre won him the 2001 Turner Prize. Also in 2000, Yinka Shonibare had a solo show there, two years before his breakout commission for Okwui Enwezor’s Documenta 10 and four years before his nomination for the Turner Prize.
John Gill, chair of the Centre’s board, said in a press announcement:
Jenni Lomax has created a centre, where art is made and exhibited, that has the respect and affection of artists and public alike. Her visionary leadership, and her skill as curator and educator, has established the reputation and influence of Camden Arts Centre internationally.
The institution aims to recruit a new director by spring of 2017.
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