Lecture Review: After the Windrush

A lecture given by Barry Venning, 17th July 2024

What do Brian Sewell, Laurence Fox and Andrew Graham-Dixon have in common?

They have each at some time, dismissed the work and exhibitions of artists of colour.

Had they taken the time to explore and understand these stunning and stimulating artists, first and second generation immigrants from what we used to call “The Empire” they may well have taken a different view.

I certainly went to the talk by Barry Venning with no experience or knowledge of “Art after Windrush”.  I came away with my mind opened to a whole new world of creativity which has been born of the personal stories of immigrants and their children in the last seventy-five years.

That Wednesday we had the first real taste of Summer so it was fitting to see colour and the exotic but often with a peculiarly British influence. This is where cultures mix with humour, personal histories and inevitably protest, at the wrongs and struggles of the past.

We finished though on an optimistic note of “Celebrating Diversity” and the future is promising with a plethora now of incredible artists bringing a new richness to our galleries.

Looking at some amazing exhibits as shown by Barry Venning, I feel that I have been missing out and this could be, for me, the start of a new enjoyment of contemporary British art.

Check out Chila Kumari Singh Burman, Sir Frank Bowling, Claudette Johnson, Yinka Shonibare, Chris Ofili, Kushna Sulaman-Butt and the incredible Singh Twins.

And so many more.