Sook-Kyung Lee, incoming Director, Whitworth Gallery. She is a Korean-born woman with dark, long hair. She wears dark clothing, and is positioned leaning against a glass wall, folding her arms.

Photo: The University of Manchester.

Changing Faces

Whitworth Gallery announces new Director

Arts Professional
2 min read

SOOK-KYUNG LEE is the new Director of Manchester’s Whitworth gallery. ​

​​​​​​The gallery forms part of The University of Manchester, where she will also become Honorary Professor of Transcultural Curating. 

Lee will join the Whitworth in August from London’s Tate Modern where she is Senior Curator of International Art. Stepping up to the role in 2012 from her position as Curator, she managed the Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational, a research programme in partnership with Hyundai Motor exploring new perspectives on global art histories.

During her tenure, she also helped to shape the Tate’s international art collection strategy by leading initiatives such as the Asia Pacific Acquisitions Committee.

Alongside her work at Tate, in 2021 Lee was also appointed Artistic Director of South Korea’s 14th Gwangju Biennale, which opened in April this year.

University of Manchester Vice-President for Social Responsibility NALIN THAKKAR said the role offers Lee a “fantastic opportunity to build on the Whitworth’s international renown as a leading cultural institution, whilst working closely with the University, the city of Manchester, our community partners and other stakeholders to strengthen its current focus and explore new exciting directions for the future”.

“It is a huge honour for me to take up the role of Director at the Whitworth, one of the most innovative and audience-focused art institutions in the UK and internationally,” Lee commented.

“I have admired the Whitworth's commitment to work with local communities and to use art for positive social change.