On the Introduction to the Image of the Black in London Galleries course, you’ll learn about the implicit and explicit Black presence in the artwork displayed in some of London’s most famous galleries. From bygone eras to the modern-day, you will be taken through the history of Black representation in art, dissecting how it has appeared – either explicitly, ie visually, or in a more implicit sense - in a wide variety of works from the galleries' collections.

The walls of the National Gallery, Tate Britain and the Wallace Collection depict a Black presence in many forms, as kings, queens, and musicians, or servants, saints, and slaves. You will delve into the cultural, social and religious significance behind these incarnations, giving an academic perspective on the often hidden Black presence and revealing how that portrayal has been transformed over the years – from being an object of economic capital to an era in which Black artists have created their own cultural capital. By the end, you’ll have a much deeper understanding of Black representation in art, and know-how to look beneath the surface in order to discover the underlying details.

Tutor: Micheal Ohajuru