100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark

On International Women’s Day in March 2023, Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage launched an exciting new project, 100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark, celebrating the stories of Black British women who have made a positive change, whether it be across arts, education, technology, science or community activism Following a public consultation and an open call, 100 Black women have been selected to have their portrait created by one of five visual artists Collectively, the artworks will be shared in a city-wide exhibition at Leicester Gallery from 1 October 2024 – 4 January 2025

100 Black women and five visual artists were shortlisted by a selection panel of Sandra Pollock OBE, founder of the Women’s Awards, which recognises women’s achievements across industry sectors; of photographer, media artist and scholar, Roshini Kempadoo; and of Pawlet Brookes MBE, CEO and Artistic Director of Serendipity Institute for Black Arts and Heritage Those selected offer a reflection of women across a range of professions and occupations who are deserving of recognition, whether they are a familiar face on stage or screen, a pioneer in research breakthroughs, or have worked quietly behind the scenes to make a positive change to their community

There is a particular focus on Black women with a connection to the UK and include household names alongside quiet leaders including sporting trailblazers, artistic directors, school principals, legal experts, politicians, community champions, medical practitioners, artists, actors, educators and entrepreneurs.

The names of the 100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark will be announced in due course

The five artists who will between them create 100 portraits are:

Valerie Asiimwe Amani

Tanzanian born, UK based interdisciplinary artist and writer, Asiimwe Amani has exhibited internationally including group shows in Lagos, Paris, Cape Town and Leipzig and solo work at Alliance Francaise, Dar es Salaam and South London Gallery in collaboration with the Roberts Institute of Art Amani holds a MFA from The Ruskin School of Art She is the recipient of the 2021 Ashmolean Museum Vivien Leigh Prize for a work on paper and winner for the 2022 Ingram Art Prize. Her work has been featured by Art Monthly, Hyperallergic and the BBC

Yvadney Davis

A figurative multi-media artist from London whose work is a love letter to her British Caribbean experience, Davis Self-taught, her art has transformed from a hobby to an award-winning practice, which includes exhibitions, commissions and, most importantly, connects the nostalgia and joy of the Windrush Generation with its descendants Key exhibitions and projects include: ING Discerning Eye, M&C Saatchi x Harrods, Casild Art, Evening Standard, Art Seen, Colours of Art School and Road Chef Shortlisted for RA Summer Exhibition and John Moore’s Painting Prize

Gayle Ebose

Born and bred in London, Ebose studied Broadcast Journalism at Nottingham Trent University and a few years later received her postgraduate in Fine Art Painting at Camberwell College of Arts at the University of Arts London Ebose has exhibited in galleries across London including the Saatchi Gallery and Copeland Gallery.

Grace Lee

A multidisciplinary artist of Jamaican and Scottish heritage from Sheffield, Lee creates vibrant pieces inspired by the biodiversity of nature, well-being and the African Caribbean Diaspora Lee is a Delphian Gallery Open Call Winner 2023 and has exhibited with Monaverse Lisbon, The Museum of Colour (Manchester Poetry Library, Bodleian Libraries and Pitt’s River Museum) and the Hagtitude exhibition at The Gallery 54 in Mayfair

Lauryn Pinard

Pinard is a London-based Franco-Haitian cross-disipline artist spanning phtogorapher, filmmaker, researcher and dance artist whose practice engages with the body as archive She was Artist-inResidence at Academy Mews Dance Studio in autumn 2022 and premiered her film series Moun Dlo as part of the Dancing with Decolonisation 2022 conference She received the Best Independent Practice and Performance Project Prize 2023 and was finalist for the Black Impact Academic Excellence Award in 2020.

100 Black Women Who Have Made A Mark is possible with the support of the Freelands Foundation’s Space to Dream Fund, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and Leicester City Council

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

FRIDAY 8 MARCH, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Join this roundtable discussion and hear from the five visual artists working on the project. The first round of the selected 100 Black women from across Britain and Ireland will also be announced!