Black History Month 2025: Looking back at the Speaking from the margins exhibition

With 130 people in attendance at the private view and resounding positive feedback, the exhibition was a huge success.

Curated by Mel Makong'o, EDI champion and Events Assistant, the exhibition offered a platform for Black voices across the university to co-create, exhibit and engage in dialogue, foregrounding work that reimagines the margins as sites of defiance and creative possibility.The works on display explored themes of decolonisation, preservation, resistance and joy, which together highlighted the plurality of Black experience -  vibrant, evolving, and richly layered.

The exhibition asked what it means to define Black history collectively and critically and invited viewers to consider how knowledge is created, shared and valued, and how the margins can become spaces of potential to reshape dominant discourses.

Mel Makon’go, comments on why this exhibition felt important to curate:

‘This exhibition came from a need to platform and champion all of the amazing talent that moves across UAL, from staff students and alumni. We wanted to celebrate the voices that are too often pushed to the margins of recognition and bring them to the front of the conversation, and with that, came Speaking from the Margins to kick start Black History Month at LCC. I think that it is so important, especially now, to continue to invest in the creativity of underrepresented communities and showcase the value of their contribution to the creative industries.’

Below are a list of artists who contributed to the exhibition. Congratulations to all students and staff who participated:

Tireni Adeniji, Kemi Ajose, Stella Ajao, India Mae Albyl, Lucy Ansa-Addo, Sarita Arthur, Chyna Addarey, Christian Azolan Treter, Kevin J Brazant, Cassia Clarke, Paulo Corbelino, Rochelle Crossley-King, Bukola Dagiloke, Bunmi Ekundayo, Amayo Duke, Zadie Freeling, Nina Grazette, Zita Holbourne, Elizabeth Joseph, Freda Osayuki Igiogbe, Obinna Iwuji, Alistair MacKinnon, Gilbert Malin, Stéphanie Malm, Tiago Mattis, Odira Morewabone, Grace Ogunobo, Rahul Patel, Alita Simpson, Ozora Sey, Patricia Uter, Rio Walker and Loretta Yussuff.