The show heightening visibility of Black British artists

Over the last two decades, only a handful of Black British artists have been profoundly recognised in British contemporary art. Figurative painter Lynette Yiadom-Boakye serves as a prime example, with her just-finished exhibition, Verses After Dusk being held at London’s Serpentine Gallery.

However, opening later this month – curated by Shanice & Suzette of S|SPACE°, a creative agency that focuses on creating a dialogue between different cultures through the interpretation of creative spaces – is an exhibition titled Past, Present, Future: An Ode to Black British Artistry, focused on the current status of Black British artistry, which aims to challenge the constraints and exclusive nature of British contemporary art. 

The artists include Adama Jalloh, who won the 2015 ‘Undergraduate Single Image’ Breakthrough Award from the British Journal of Photography; Mathieu Ajan, who recently screened his short film, “Layers” at his solo exhibition TREEHOUSE, and Koby Martin, who designed the album artwork for Krept & Konan’s “The Long way Home”.

Coinciding with October’s Black History Month, Past, Present, Future: An Ode to Black British Artistry delves into the creative minds of a young and emerging generation of Black British artists, bringing together a group of creatives spanning varied mediums – from photography, sculpture and film – looking at their inspirations and challenges, and the part these play in the progression of British contemporary art.

Past, Present, Future: An Ode to Black British Artistry is on 26 – 29 October, 2015 at The Hoxton Basement. Visit S|SPACE° for more information