Black History Month Art Display

To mark Black History Month, a selection of the JCR Art Collection’s pieces by Black British artists have been hung in various prominent public locations around College. These same artworks were displayed in the Art Gallery last autumn, where, as the Art Fund’s newest acquisitions, they formed part of an exhibition called Late Entry | Early Doors.

Pembroke’s JCR Art Collection was established in 1947 by Anthony Emery who came to College to read History following his return from serving in WWII. Initially intended to create a gallery of pictures for the Common Room, and to provide patronage for upcoming artists, its remit soon extended to the termly loan of pictures for display in student rooms.

The project which drove the acquisition of these particular artworks began in 2020 as a response to the Black Lives Matter movement, evolving since then into a reflection on the lived experience of students at Oxford. The aim of the project was to reaffirm the inclusivity of the Collection and to show support for the Black Lives Matter movement. Peter Corti, then JCR President, said:

"In line with Emery’s vision we should be buying art for the education of our peers that reflects the broader population in Britain and the current state of the Art world, which has regularly featured the contributions from Black British artists."

The committee used that year’s acquisition budget, as well as extraordinary funds from the reserve, to purchase fourteen pieces by Black British artists. ‘British’ is defined as those who were born, lived, studied, worked, or were inspired by Britain. Students from Pembroke and the Oxford African and Caribbean Society were invited to join the selection panel and committee and to bring their experiences, aesthetic preferences and interests in the visual arts to the gallery.

We hope that members of the community will appreciate the works on display during October. We are grateful to the JCR Art Fund, who have arranged the display, for their ongoing commitment to championing artists and uplifting marginalised voices in the art world. 

Mikela Henry-Lowe

Mikela Henry-Lowe began creating work with a focus on the representation of black women in society and on social media to bring attention to the more positive and celebratory image of black women. Her vibrant portraits celebrate the beauty and individuality of Black women. The pieces can be seen in the entrance to College and in the Library (ground floor).

That Blue Liner
2021
Mixed media on aluminium panel: Acrylics, glass paint and oils

We.Are.Poised
2021
Print

The Wrap Life 2
2016
Print
 

Lubaina Himid

Turner prize-winning artist Lubaina Himid is known for her colourful cut-outs that speak to questions of race, identity, memory and history. She created this piece for the cover of a special edition of the Guardian on racism in the UK, and explains that “the piece is a weaving together of found images of West African cloth plus actual weaving of pieces of found colour photos from magazines.” The print, along with a piece by Mikela Henry-Lowe, is displayed in the Library stairwell.

G2 Cover
2020
Digital print

Black girl with that pearl earring (Mikela Henry-Lowe)
2019
Print
 

Chris Ofili

Chris Ofili’s playful, kaleidoscopic canvases consider desire and identity, especially as related to African diasporic traditions. Ofili has referenced Zimbabwean cave paintings, blaxploitation films, and Catholic iconography. He composes his lush, dense canvases from collage, glitter, and—perhaps most famously—elephant dung. Chris' piece can be seen on the ground floor of the Library.

Afro Harlem Muses
2005
Lithograph
 

Nadine Ijewere

Photographer Nadine Ijewere creates editorial fashion images that capture the grace and versatility of women of colour. Frustrated by the lack of representation she saw when flipping through popular fashion magazines, Ijewere began taking photos as a way of expanding notions of beauty beyond traditional Western norms. This portrait is hung in the Dining Hall.

Art of Renaissance 
2017
Photographic archival pigment print
 

Lina Iris Viktor

Conceptual artist Lina Iris Viktor’s practice is informed by a background in theatre and film. Her artworks are a blend of photography, performance and abstract painting, along with the ancient practice of gilding with 24-karat gold to create dark canvases embedded with ‘layers of light’. This piece continues her exploration of the Dark Continent, an ongoing series that foregrounds a solitary female figure in a monochromatic landscape. The print is hung in the Hall.

We are the Night – The Keepers of Light
2015 – 2019
Archival giclée print
 

Jade Pearl

Jade Pearl is an abstract artist and creative designer with a focus on digital art, illustration, murals and art direction. She uses affirmations and positive statements in her work in the hope of empowering people through her art. She explains: ‘When I create, I create from what I see beneath the surface using bright, beautiful, uplifting colours that represent well-being and empowerment. When we focus on what lies beneath the surface, there – and only there – do we have hope for restoring unity, power and a sense of togetherness.’ Jade's pieces are displayed in the Henderson Building.

I am Enough (top/left)
2020
Digital illustration print

Black Women are not a Trend (bottom/right)
2021
Digital illustration print
 

Skai Campbell

Skai Campbell is a photographer currently studying at the University of Oxford. He describes his ‘Us Lot’ collection as ‘an exploration of the strength and pride of the black student body at the University of Oxford.’ Three pieces from the collection are displayed in Farthings Café.

Better Than Literally (All) of You (top)
2020
Photograph

Due to my Skin Colour (bottom)
2020
Photograph

Actively Excluded
2020
Photograph