Black artists can sometimes feel overwhelmingly absent from Britain’s art history. We live in a society that is still affected by the repercussions of systematic racism. The lifetime of a person is short, unlike artwork, when it seen in public spaces like museums and galleries, it can give artists validation that their art will live on longer and leave a legacy that can contribute to history. It is important that galleries and museum reflect the current multicultural society that Britain lives in on its gallery and museum wall. The impact of the British Black Art movement and the more recent Black Lives Matter movement have given more importance to black artists as whole, who have made and impact to art history. The Black Art movement in Britain will be specifically important in this study, to establishing some of the key figures that have recently gotten recognition and are representing Britain internationally. This study aims investigate the origins of ‘Black Art’ in Britain and note some of the artists who until recently have been absent in our libraries, and art history lessons. This study will navigate the key eras that cemented the emergence of Black artists in Britain and consider the shifts that have occurred during the decades. The study considers how these artists who have been in ‘plain sight yet invisible’ have reclaimed their place in Britain’s art history. It explores the variety of responses, experiences as well as the complexities that evolved over the categorization of ‘Black British’ artists. Key figures of the period have recorded their experiences in books and articles, this will be a significant part of qualitative research that will inform this study. In addition to these, articles, websites, and documentaries will provide insight into contemporary views on the topic. Through the consideration of all these sources, the evolution and the current perceptions of black British artists will be discovered.
*Rhoda won the School of Design EDI dissertation prize this year. She also designed the mural that’s going to be in the University Library.
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