Curator, writer, art strategist and adviser, Clare Lilley is the former director of Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP), having taken over the position in 2022. Prior to this, she was director of programme at YSP.
Throughout her career, she has been committed to engaging diverse audiences in exceptional and meaningful art; to contributing to the wider community and economy; and to building a relevant and sustainable institution.
She has a particular expertise in developing and siting sculpture in the public realm and has curated a number of internationally renowned projects by artists including Ai Weiwei, Fiona Banner, Damien Hirst, Robert Indiana, Amar Kanwar, KAWS, William Kentridge, Kimsooja, Alfredo Jaar, James Lee Byars, Shirin Neshat, Heather Peak & Ivan Morison, Giuseppe Penone, Thomas J Price, Sean Scully, Yinka Shonibare CBE, David Smith, James Turrell, Joana Vasconcelos, Bill Viola and Erwin Wurm.
Clare was selector of Frieze Sculpture, London, 2012-2022. Following her Robert Indiana Sculpture exhibition at YSP, she partnered with the Indiana Legacy in a major exhibition at the Venice Biennale (2024). She curated Jaume Plensa in San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice Biennale (2015); and William Turnbull at Chatsworth House (2013). She is an advisor to the Yinka Shonibare Foundation, Lagos and a Trustee of the George Rickey Foundation, New York. She served on the advisory committee of the Government Art Collection from 2015-2023 and was a Trustee of Art UK, the Jupiter Artland Foundation, and Site Gallery, Sheffield. In 2021 Clare appeared as an expert judge for the Sky Arts TV series, LANDMARK.
Photo Credit: Jonty Wilde
