The work spans styles and mediums broadly: interdisciplinary artist Hamed Maiye painted a striking, almost photorealistic portrait in black and white oil bar, oil and pastel on black cotton canvas. Another, by TJ Agbo, utilises their trademark abstract style, bringing together shapes, colours and black and white to create an effective and stunning portrait. Sharmaarke Ali Adan, known for their soft, empathetic portraits, contributed a rich and colourful photograph of a friend wearing a beret.

Faces and figures feature throughout the exhibition. In a piece by Joy Yamusangie, a mannequin-esque figure formed of circles hovers eerily, set against a blue background. One by 21-year-old queer artist Ashton Attzs states its message clearly: in their trademark, bright, abstract colours and shapes, a person holds up a weight that reads “Black Power”. With its bright shades of orange, green and pink complementing the figure’s black skin, it’s a powerful and vibrant piece with an important message.

Olivia Twist centres people in her work too, with a more subtle depiction of two figures drawn from the side, in black against a blue background. Ronan McKenzie, a photographer who specialises in bold photos of the black human form, contributed a beautiful photograph of two women wearing white holding one another. With a painting of a nude black woman wearing pink heels sitting in an orange room, talented painter Chinaza Agbor offered an eye-catching piece that needs to be seen in large to be truly appreciated. Finally, King Owusu, who often works with markers, delivered a work that combines nature, colour and humanity.

While people or abstractions of people feature in many of these works, some artists chose instead to centre words or colour. Hilda Kortei, an artist who often uses collage in her pieces, contributed a colourful, abstract piece of art that features fun, even childish patches of colour and shapes. Alfie Kungu, known for his colourful paintings of legs, delivered a bold, busy canvas that centres pinks and purples amongst blue and yellow, leaving the interpretation up to the viewer. Less up for interpretation is Leah Abraham’s contribution, a pink piece of graphic design that promotes tenderness: “soft black womxnhood is resistance,” it reads. “I needed a visual intention which speaks of our natures, our existence, our survivals during this time where there is so much complexity, so many layers and an astounding breadth of trajectory to wade through,” said the artist in an Instagram post.

Not only does the project respond to the renewed discussion around Black artists in the creative world but it promotes Black solidarity and unity to ensure that Black artists are seen at such a pivotal time.

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