The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Annual Lecture 2026

The Warburg Institute is a leading centre for the study of art and culture based in London. Its collections, courses and programmes are dedicated to the study of global cultural history and the role of images in society. Founded by the historian Aby Warburg (1866-1929) in Hamburg, the Institute developed from his interest in the survival and transmission of ideas, images and traditions across time and space.

Bill Sherman is Director of the Warburg Institute and was formerly Director of Research and Collections at the V&A. Under Dr. Sherman’s leadership, the 'Warburg Renaissance' project was completed in 2024 and transformed the Institute’s Bloomsbury building. The ambitious project combined sensitive restoration with new galleries, an expanded auditorium and enhanced collection storage - reviving the Institute’s original emphasis on discovery, display and debate.

The Gilbert Annual Lecture focuses on the history of collecting and how world-class collections have been built.

Drinks to follow in the Silver Galleries.

The annual lecture is supported by the Gilbert Trust for the Arts.