1. Evelyn Hoffer at The Photographer’s Gallery
Evelyn Hofer’s exhibition highlights her carefully selected collection of large-scale portraits, landscapes, cityscapes, still life, and domestic interiors. She captures striking black and white portraits in London and Wales, as well as vibrant scenes of street and park life in New York and Washington. With a keen awareness of social dynamics, her lens gives importance to all, transcending racial boundaries.
Location: 16-18 Ramillies St, London W1F 7LW
Price: £6.50 (when booked online)
Dates: 23 June 2023 – 24 Sep 2023
2. Johnny Pitts: Home is Not a Place
Photographer Johny Pitts and poet Roger Robinson journeyed around the British coastline in 2021 together to explore the concept of “Black Britain”. Their collaboration, titled “Home is Not a Place,” is being displayed at the Photographers Gallery. It takes its name from a quote by American writer James Baldwin, suggesting that home may not be a physical place but an unchanging condition.
The exhibition features a blend of Roger’s moving poetry and Johnny’s captivating photography.
Location: 16-18 Ramillies St, London W1F 7LW
Price: £6.50 (when booked online)
Dates: 23 June 2023 – 24 Sep 2023
3. A World in common: Contemporary African Photography
From Kelani Abass to Andrew Esiebo, this thought-provoking exhibition delves into the realm of photography, film, audio, and more to reframe Africa’s rich cultures and historical narratives, particularly in their portrayal of black skin.
The artists amplify themes of spirituality, identity, urbanism, and the urgent issue of the climate crisis through captivating dreamscapes and bustling cities, providing unique experiences of blackness. It reveals how photography enables the convergence of the past and the future, and empowers black narratives to reshape our collective understanding.
Location: Bankside, London SE1 9TG
Price: £17 or free for members
Dates: 6 July 2023 – 14 January 2024
4. Eric Gyamfi: Fixing Shadows – Julius and I
Eric Gyamfi’s first solo exhibition in the UK envelops the gallery space in monochromatic blueprints. The walls are densely adorned with thousands of them, and within each one, he masterfully merges his own image with transgressive African American composer, Julius Eastman’s. It’s a profound homage with each image showing faces blending in endless variations that tell their own stories.
The visual installation offers a reflection on legacy, absence, and revival, inviting viewers to ponder the narratives woven within each print.
Location: Rivington Place, London EC2A 3BA
Price: Free (when booked online)
Dates: 28 Apr 2023 – 2 Sep 2023
5. Carrie Mae Weems: Reflections for Now
Gallery, New York / Galerie Barbara Thumm, Berlin
Carrie Mae Weems is widely acclaimed for her exploration of identity, power, desire, and social justice. The largest showcase of her multidisciplinary art brings together a diverse collection of photographs, films, and past installations spanning over 30 years.
Carrie Mae gained prominence in the early 1980s with her photography that critically examined how the representation of African Americans has perpetuated systemic racism and inequality. Do not miss this extraordinary opportunity to experience the breadth and depth of her artistic vision.
Location: Barbican Centre, Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS
Price: £16 or free for members
Dates: Thu 22 June 2023 —Sun 3 Sep 2023
6. Ajamu: The Patron Saint of Darkrooms
For over 30 years, Ajamu has fearlessly celebrated black queer bodies, embracing the power of eroticism and pleasure as forms of activism. He has challenged traditional notions of masculinity, gender, sexuality, and the representation of black LGBTQ+ individuals in the UK. His latest exhibition explores the politics of pleasure with intense self-portraits to tender portrayals of lovers, vibrant images of friends, and even objects used by his subjects.
Experience the captivating visuals that challenge norms, celebrate diversity, and empower the black LGBTQ+ community.
Location: Rivington Place, London EC2A 3BA
Price: Free (when booked online)
Dates: 28 April 2023 – 2 Sep 2023