Sally Tallant Appointed Director of Hayward Gallery in London

Southbank Center has appointed Sally Tallant as the new director of the Hayward Gallery, a role she will take up starting in July. She will replace longtime Hayward hotel director Ralph Rugoff, who recently announced his resignation after 20 years at the helm.

As part of his new role, Tarrant will also oversee visual arts installations at other institutions at the Southbank Centre, a cultural hub along the River Thames in London. In addition to the Hayward Gallery, which focuses on contemporary art, South Bank also includes three performance spaces and the National Poetry Library.

Mark Ball, the Southbank Center’s artistic director, called Tarrant a “visionary leader and curator” and praised her ability to “create world-class encounters that bridge the gap between art and community.”

Tarrant has served as president and executive director of the Queens Museum in New York since 2018. Prior to this she was Director of the Liverpool Biennale and Head of Programs at the Serpentine Gallery in London. She joins the Queens Museum at a tumultuous time: Former director Laura Lekovich recently resigned amid ongoing disagreements with the board over the museum’s decision to host an event involving the Israeli government and then-U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

At the Queens Museum, Tarrant oversaw exhibitions by dozens of artists, including Fia Backström, Christine Sun Kim, Aki Sasamoto, Lyle Ashton Harris, and Mierle Laderman Ukeles.

Leeds-born Tarrant said in a statement: “It’s an honor to join Mark Ball and Elaine Beadle. [Southbank CEO]and build on the outstanding legacy of Ralph Rugoff to shape the next chapter of this important cultural destination and civic institution. “