Ambassadors of Feeling

Joe Whale, previously known as “The Doodle Boy”, presents his first major London solo exhibition at The Truman Brewery, Shoreditch, from 23–25 October 2026. About Ambassadors of Feeling by Joe Whale (aka The Doodle Boy) is a new body of work exploring what it means to grow up and navigate the complexities of today's world. The solo exhibition marks a significant evolution from the spontaneous black-and-white drawings that first made Whale internationally known towards painting, colour, large-scale works and sculpture. Whale was nine when the drawings that repeatedly landed him in trouble at school attracted the attention of Nike, Disney, M&S and landed him a Royal commission. Now aged 16, the new body of work marks a departure and development in his practice, moving from the instinctive doodling to a more intentional visual language encompassing large-scale acrylic painting, colour and sculpture. At the centre of the exhibition are ten characters, Whale’s “Ambassadors”, through which he explores ideas including: Direction, Care, Humanity, Rebellion, Positivity, Peace, Imagination, Unpredictability, Impact and Awareness. The origins of the collection are personal. Whale has described how his approach to drawing changed after his family moved from the UK to Australia during his teenage years. What had once been an instinctive form of expression became a means of processing change, and the increasingly complicated emotions of growing up. Each Ambassador represents a feeling or state of mind that Whale continues to explore, rather than one he considers resolved. The collection also reflects Whale’s growing interest in what happens to creativity and emotion in a world increasingly mediated through technology. Having grown up alongside social media, and more recently, generative AI, he considers how digital platforms, algorithms and constant streams of information shape the way we experience and express creativity. Speaking of his return to London, Joe says: “I’m really excited to be bringing Ambassadors of Feeling to London. I’ve changed a lot since I left the UK, and the way I make art has changed with me. When I was younger, I would just start drawing and see where it took me; now I think much more about what I want the work to say. This collection feels very personal because the characters come from feelings and experiences I’m still working through myself. I hope people can stand in front of them and recognise something from their own lives too.” Ambassadors of Feeling by Joe Whale Location: The Truman Brewery, 1 Ely's Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, London E1 6QR 23–25 October 2026 Private View (by invitation): 22 October 6pm to 9pm Public opening: 23 - 25 October 11am to 6pm Joe Whale Live Appearances: 23 Oct at 5pm, 24 Oct at midday and 25 Oct at 2pm Read more Toggle Sculpture Design / Fashion Painting Performance / Live Art