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A revolutionary exhibition at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ Leicester (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ) is taking steps to address the historical absence of Black women from portraiture in the UK.

100 Black Women Who Have Made a Mark opened at the Leicester Gallery at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ as part of Black History Month and features portraits of 100 women by artists Valerie Asiimwe Amani, Yvadney Davis, Gayle Ebose, Grace Lee and Lauryn Pinard.

Curator Pawlet Brookes MBE by her portrait

The exhibition is the brainchild of Pawlet Brookes MBE, the CEO and Artistic Director of Leicester-based Serendipity  Institute for Black Arts and Heritage.

Incredibly there are 31,000 portraits registered on the Art UK list. Of those portraits, 8,815 are women, but just 114 of those women are tagged as Black women.

Ms Brookes is proud that the exhibition ‘has almost doubled that number in one fell swoop’.

She said: “When you walk around a room like this you ask yourself ‘why are these people not recognised?’.

The five artists who painted the 100 portraits

“These women have not just given to Black culture they have given to British culture and society. They have all made step changes for everybody.

“And these people are not just artists.  We are talking about people in education, medicine, music, dance, engineering – everywhere you look you can see how these Black women have contributed something which is more than just themselves. That is really, really important.

“These women are tied to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – they cover the whole of the UK and have been selected for their contributions in terms of visibility.

“We have also been recording podcasts of the sitters or the families of the sitters. Some of these stories are harrowing in terms of what these people have been through – really hard hitting – while others are more joyful.

Opera singer Alison Buchanan

“But we were determined to provide the backstories and look into these women’s lives. It is so important to show what people have achieved in the face of adversity.

“They are still campaigning to make things better for everyone. That needs to be seen and understood and celebrated.”

The featured women include figures such as Zamzam Ibrahim, a climate justice activist and former president of the NUS, sporting leader Tessa Sanderson OBE, politician and diplomat Baroness Valerie Ann Amos, Booker Prize-winning author Bernadine Evaristo OBE, legendary singer Pauline Black, from The Selecter, and former chancellor of ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ, Baroness Doreen Lawrence.

There are also portraits of Black women from Leicester including music sensation Mahalia, Josette Simon, who was the first Black woman to play a lead role at the Royal Shakespeare Company, poet and playwright Carol Leeming MBE and Agnes Nisbett who was the first Black nursing officer in Leicester.

Bertha Ochieng, Professor of Integrated Health and Social Care at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ, is also included in recognition of her focus on equality and inclusion of often marginalised communities. This includes leading the Talent 25 longitudinal study, which commenced in September 2019 in Leicester and will run for 25 years. The ground breaking study explores the impact of early years cultural engagement on children and their families from less engaged demographic groups.

The portrait of Prof Bertha Ochieng

Professor Ochieng said: “I was surprised and humbled to be included among such incredible, inspiring women featured in this exhibition such as Baroness Lawrence, Gina Yashere, Bernadine Evaristo and Baroness Amos.

“My work in health and social care has always focused on diverse, under-served communities and low-income families and to have this kind of recognition helps to amplify their voices and their experiences too. It's an amazing honour."

Ms Brookes says some of the people who have come to see the exhibition have been overwhelmed by what they have seen and some have been in tears.

She said: “It is history in the making. Where do you go to see this type of exhibition? It just doesn’t happen. How do we see portraiture? People can see it as being very staid but this is vibrant and lively, incorporating different styles and techniques.

“The portraits tell a story about the people and who they are.

“This is not just about culture. It is about celebrating outstanding achievements and these women’s contributions to make society better.”

Pauline Black from Ska pioneers The Selecter

Portrait artist Gayle Ebose said: “Black women's stories are so deep. We have our oral histories that we share but things are not always documented visually or written, things like portraiture document women in history.

“It shows that we are here… It is a privilege to be a Black woman and depict Black women at such a time as this.”

The exhibition is at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ’s Leicester Gallery, on the ground floor of the Vijay Patel Design Wing, and runs until 4 January 2025. The Gallery is open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Friday and Saturday 12pm to 5pm.