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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 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]
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]
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