The Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage is leading a groundbreaking project to address the historical erasure of Black women from portraiture in the UK.

100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark centres around an exhibition, which opened this month, featuring portraits of 100 Black women with connections to Britain and Ireland, curated by Pawlet Brookes with artwork by visual artists Valerie Asiimwe Amani, Yvadney Davis, Gayle Ebose, Grace Lee and Lauryn Pinard.

Through an open call, members of the public nominated women they believed deserved wider recognition. From around 700 nominations, finalists were selected by a judging panel. Among those chosen is Dr Peggy Brunache from the University of Glasgow, who also serves as the Director of the Beniba Centre for Slavery Studies. 

Dr Brunache, whose portrait was painted by Gayle Ebose, said: "Being chosen for 100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark is both humbling and empowering. As a historian and archaeologist, I'm keenly aware of how Black women's stories have been overlooked. This initiative not only celebrates our achievements but creates a powerful visual legacy with an audacious message that we Black women shall be remembered. I'm honoured to be part of this collective narrative and hope it encourages broader recognition of past and contemporary Black women's experiences in our cultural institutions."

An image of Peggy Brunache and her portrait part of the 100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark exhibition

The portraits collectively celebrate Black women who have made significant positive changes across diverse sectors including activism, arts, education, politics, science and technology. Each portrait brings a different aesthetic, encapsulating the tenacity, leadership and invisible power of Black womanhood.

Accompanying the exhibition is a series of podcasts, providing an opportunity for each woman (or those who knew her) to tell her story. The exhibition will run from now until 4 January 2025 at Leicester Gallery, with an exhibition catalogue available for purchase. The podcast series will be accessible on all major podcasting platforms.

In the future, the portraits will be viewable as part of Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage's Living Archive, alongside a documentary film providing insight into the creative process and heritage research.

This project not only honours the contributions of Black women but also creates a lasting legacy, encouraging broader recognition and representation in cultural institutions across the UK and Ireland.

First published: 8 October 2024

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