Julia Peyton-Jones to step down from the Serpentine after 25 years

Earlier today the board of the Serpentine Galleries announced that Julia Peyton-Jones, director and co-director of exhibitions and programmes will be stepping down next summer after 25 years at the helm of the London gallery.

She has held her position as director since 1991, and along with Hans Ulrich Obrist, who joined her as co-director of exhibitions and programmes in 2006, they have been responsible for making the Serpentine one of the most exciting and internationally respected galleries.

In a statement, 63-year-old Peyton-Jones said: “There is never a good time to leave an institution but I wanted to leave the Serpentine at a time of strength and success. It has been a great honour to be director of the Serpentine through such an exciting period and to have worked with such incredible artists, staff and trustees. In particular, I want to pay tribute to Hans Ulrich Obrist, our collaboration over the last 10 years to further develop the Serpentine’s international reach across all its programmes and, to coin our phrase, ‘to think the unthinkable’, has been an incredible privilege. I know the Serpentine will continue to flourish and innovate with its exceptional staff and the outstanding leadership of our board of directors and chairman, Michael Bloomberg.”

Julia Peyton-Jones will leave her position at the Serpentine Galleries in July 2016. A new director has yet to be appointed and recruitment is currently underway.