Will Gompertz

William Edward Gompertz^[1] (born 1965)^[2] is an English journalist, author and art critic. He was formerly the BBC's arts editor^[3] before moving to a position as the Barbican Centre's Artistic Director from 1 June 2021.^[4]

Gompertz at the 2024 Ealing Book Festival

Family and education

Gompertz is the son of general practitioner Hugh Gompertz OBE and a second cousin of Simon Gompertz, at one time personal finance correspondent for BBC News.^[5] He is a relation of Benjamin, Isaac and Lewis Gompertz.^[6] He was born in Tenterden, Kent, and attended Dulwich Preparatory School, in Cranbrook, Kent and then Bedford School. He was expelled from school aged 16 and left with no A-levels.^[7]

Gompertz married teacher Kate Anderson, daughter of Sir Eric Anderson, in 1993 and they have three sons and one daughter.^[8]

Career

Gompertz was previously director of Tate Media, and appeared in a show at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2009 called Double Art History.^[9] Gompertz has written extensively for The Guardian and The Times newspapers. He is the author of What Are You Looking At?: 150 Years of Modern Art in the Blink of an Eye^[10] and Think Like an Artist.^[11]

It was announced, on 4 August 2023, that he would take over as Director of London's Sir John Soane's Museum from January 2024.^[12]