Last updated: 27 October 2026
Milly Thompson (1964 to 2022) was the British artist and BANK collective member whose paintings, videos and posters took pleasure seriously. Here you will find our take on her work, the 2025 to 2026 touring show, and the £220 print you can still buy.
Our take on Milly Thompson
Thompson was part of BANK, the artists’ collective, from 1994 to 2003, then built a solo practice in painting, sculpture, video and posters. “Art is a place to experiment, make mistakes and understand failure,” she says in Goldsmiths CCA’s exhibition text.
Pleasure ran through her work as a political subject. In a 2020 im labor interview she said: “Pleasure is a very interesting political space to reside in.” Her Picabia “Pleasure Paintings” and the 2009 video Aroma Venus were shown again at Amanda Wilkinson in 2026.
She taught on Goldsmiths’ MFA Fine Art from 2000 to 2021. Her estate is handled by Amanda Wilkinson, and her Whitechapel edition was still on sale when we checked.
Milly Thompson: the essentials
- Born 1964; died 2022.
- BA Fine Art, Slade School of Art, 1989, according to Amanda Wilkinson.
- Member of the artists’ collective BANK from 1994 to 2003.
- Taught on the MFA Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London, from 2000 to 2021, and in the Painting department at the Royal College of Art.
- BANK’s work is held by Tate, the British Council and MoMA; her solo work by the British Library and Focal Point Gallery.
Milly Thompson exhibitions
- Aroma Venus, Amanda Wilkinson, London, 16 April to 23 May 2026.
- My Body Temperature is Feeling Good, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead, 28 March to 30 August 2026.
- My Body Temperature is Feeling Good, her largest solo show, Goldsmiths CCA, London, 5 June to 24 August 2025.
- Savoir Faire, Focal Point Gallery, Southend-on-Sea, 4 July to 15 August 2009.
Where to buy a Milly Thompson print
One edition was on sale when we checked; original works go through Amanda Wilkinson by enquiry:
- Ray grows irritated with the wait, 2022, £220: digital pigment print with metallic silkscreen on Somerset Velvet, 42.5 x 29.1 cm (16.7 x 11.5 in), signed and numbered, edition of 40, from the Whitechapel Gallery shop. Two were left.
Our reviews featuring Milly Thompson
- Milly Thompson: Aroma Venus review: our take on the 2026 show at Amanda Wilkinson.
Milly Thompson FAQs
Who was Milly Thompson?
A British artist (1964 to 2022), a member of the collective BANK from 1994 to 2003, and a long-serving tutor at Goldsmiths.
Can I buy a Milly Thompson print?
Yes. The Whitechapel Gallery shop had two left of her 2022 edition Ray grows irritated with the wait, at £220.
Who handles Milly Thompson’s estate?
Amanda Wilkinson, 47 Farringdon Road, London.
Where did Milly Thompson study?
The Slade School of Art, graduating in 1989.
More from CoolCuration
- Flare Up at Goldsmiths CCA review: more from Goldsmiths’ public gallery.
- Great Women Artists: the Phaidon survey for your shelf.
- National Art Pass: discounts on big shows across the UK.
- Best affordable art in the UK: where to start collecting original work.
Think we’re missing something, got something wrong, or want to be featured? Contact us.
Main image: Milly Thompson, Niche Definitions, 2021. Courtesy of The Estate of Milly Thompson and Amanda Wilkinson, London. Framed by CoolCuration. Exhibition dates and prices last checked: 27 October 2026.
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