The Showroom was established in 1983 and in 2013 celebrated thirty years of supporting artists to stage their first solo shows in London and its role as a pivotal force in the development of contemporary art practice.

It was one of the first galleries in what is now a thriving East End art scene, but moved from its Bonner Road site in Bethnal Green to Penfold Street near Edgware Road in 2009. The first exhibition at Penfold Street was A Long Time Between Suns Part II, by The Otolith Group, which earned them a nomination for the Turner Prize 2010.

Artists commissioned by The Showroom at significant points in their career include Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Can Altay, Claire Barclay, Ricardo Basbaum, Marc Chaimowicz, Mona Hatoum, Jim Lambie, Wendelien van Oldenborgh, Uriel Orlow, Ciara Phillips (project nominated for the Turner Prize 2014), Eva Rothschild, Grace Schwindt, Simon Starling and Rebecca Warren.

As well as supporting artists at the right moment in their careers, The Showroom has always played a role in developing discourse around contemporary art practices. This activity expanded significantly under the directorship of Emily Pethick, when the organisation programmed around fifty public events a year, almost all of which being free to access.

Previous directors of The Showroom are: Elvira Dyangani Ose (2018-2021), Emily Pethick (2008–2018), Kirsty Ogg (1998–2008), Kim Sweet (1992–1998) and David Thorp (1988–1992).