Joe Whale, the artist who became known around the world as The Doodle Boy when he was nine, is showing his first major solo exhibition in London at the Truman Brewery off Brick Lane from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October.
The show, Ambassadors of Feeling, is made up of 22 new large-scale works, mostly acrylic paintings, with sculpture. It is open to the public from 11am to 6pm on each of the three days. Whale, now 16, will appear in person at 5pm on Friday, at midday on Saturday and at 2pm on Sunday. An invitation-only preview is held on the evening of Thursday 22 October.
From a restaurant wall to Brick Lane
Whale grew up in Shrewsbury. In 2019, aged nine, he covered the walls of Number Four, a restaurant in the town, with his black-and-white doodles. Pictures of him at work went viral, and the nickname stuck.
Brand work followed. The exhibition announcement lists collaborations with Nike, Disney and M&S and a royal commission. He now lives in Adelaide, Australia, and has come back to the UK for the London show.
What is in the show
The new work is mostly acrylic painting, a move on from the line drawings that made his name. At its centre are ten characters, which Whale calls his Ambassadors, each standing for an idea: Direction, Care, Humanity, Rebellion, Positivity, Peace, Imagination, Unpredictability, Impact and Awareness.
“I’m really excited to be bringing Ambassadors of Feeling to London,” Whale said in the announcement. “I’ve changed a lot since I left the UK, and the way I make art has changed with me.”
The essentials
- What: Ambassadors of Feeling, a solo exhibition by Joe Whale (The Doodle Boy)
- Where: The Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, off Brick Lane, London E1 6QR
- When: Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, 11am to 6pm
- Artist appearances: 5pm Friday, 12pm Saturday, 2pm Sunday
- Works: 22 new paintings and sculptures
- Artist’s site: thejoewhale.com
The Truman Brewery is a short walk from Shoreditch High Street station. For more to do nearby, see our Brick Lane guide and a self-guided Shoreditch street art walk.