Art on the Underground

Art on the Underground is a pioneering program that commissions artists for London Underground. Tamsin Dillon was the Head of the program from 2003 to 2014. Working with leading international and emerging artists to commission contemporary art for the millions of people that use London Underground, she developed a contemporary art programme that has transformed many parts of the network and has made a major contribution to the reputation of Transport for London.

Art on the Underground was developed by Tamsin Dillon through a series of project strands that enabled its growth across the Tube network, including permanent and temporary artworks as well as participatory projects. She established a program that engages stakeholders, partners, a wide range of publics and especially passengers and staff in a sense of shared ownership.

She worked with over 200 artists while at the helm of Art on the Underground. Her achievements there include the development of a professional team based within London Underground, setting up and managing the on-going advisory panel that continues to ensure the highest quality of work, and the establishment of a crucial international network of connections with other transport and public art programs.

Highlights of the programme during her tenure include a range of ambitious temporary commissions at Gloucester Road station including works by Beatriz Milhazes, Mark Titchner and Cindy Sherman; and the establishment of artworks commissioned for Tube map cover with well over 30 artworks to date by artists from Rachel Whiteread and Yayoi Kusama to Cornelia Parker and Barbara Kruger. In addition she oversaw new permanent works by artists including Daniel Buren at Tottenham Court Road station, Knut Henrick Henricksen at King’s Cross station, Jacqueline Poncelet at Edgware Road station and Labyrinth, a major network-wide work by Mark Wallinger created to commemorate the 150th anniversary of London Underground.