The Serpentine Galleries are two contemporary
art galleries in
Kensington Gardens,
Westminster,
Greater London. Recently rebranded to just Serpentine,[2] the organisation is split across Serpentine South, previously known as the Serpentine Gallery, and Serpentine North, previously known as the Sackler Gallery. The gallery spaces are within five minutes' walk of each other, linked by the bridge over the
Serpentine Lake from which the galleries get their names. Their exhibitions, architecture, education and public programmes attract up to 1.2 million visitors a year. Admission to both galleries is free. The CEO is
Bettina Korek, and the artistic director
Hans Ulrich Obrist.
In 2013,
Serpentine North was opened to the public named as the Serpentine Sackler Gallery, a name changed to Serpentine North in 2021.[5] This gave new life to The Magazine, a
Grade II* listed former gunpowder store built in 1805,[6] with the addition of an extension designed by
Zaha Hadid Architects. Located five minutes' walk from Serpentine South across the Serpentine Bridge, it comprises 900 square metres (9,700 sq ft) of gallery space, restaurant, shop and social space. The Magazine Restaurant adjoins the gallery space.
Pavilions
Every year since 2000, Serpentine has commissioned a temporary summer pavilion by a leading architect. The series presents the work of an international architect or design team who has not completed a building in England at the time of the Gallery's invitation. Each Pavilion is completed within six months and is situated on the Serpentine South's lawn for three months for the public to explore.