Ian White (1971–2013) was an artist, curator and writer.

 

Born and raised in Dagenham, he studied English Literature at Downing College, Cambridge (1990-93). On returning to London in the mid-1990s he became involved with the underground arts scene around The Horse Hospital, where he was both programmer and occasional performer for several years. By the mid-2000s White was a highly influential curator of the moving image and organised many screenings, events and exhibitions for venues including LUX, the Whitechapel Gallery, Kino Arsenal in Berlin and the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen.

 

White was also an artist working primarily in performance (he himself called his curatorial and artistic work “indivisible”). His often worked collaboratively, notably with fellow artist and friend Jimmy Robert. White’s performances were staged at venues internationally including Tate Britain and Tate Modern; the Chisenhale Gallery; the Hebbel-am-Ufer Theatre, Berlin; Jeu de Paume, Paris; and the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

 

In addition to his curatorial and performance work, White wrote extensively for art magazines, as well as numerous catalogue essays and book chapters. He also taught extensively, holding positions at Goldsmiths’ Department of Art and the Dutch Art Institute amongst others, and was leader of the LUX Associate Artists Programme (2007-13).

 

White lived in London for much of his working life, but after a DAAD residency in 2009 he relocated to Berlin for several years, returning to London only in the last year of his life. White died of cancer on October 26, 2013. He has been the subject of several posthumous publications and shows.