The BLK Art Group

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In 1979, a group of young black British artists broke onto the British art scene. Collectively, they called themselves the BLK Art Group and, together with other artists like Tam Joseph, they made work that challenged ideas of race and society in Britain in the 80s and early 90s. It all began when artist Eddie Chambers founded a group known as the Wolverhampton Young Black Artists. The group then later re-branded as the BLK Art Group and included Keith Piper, Marlene Smith, Eddie Chambers and Donald Rodney, all based in the Midlands. They took their inspiration from a variety of sources, including the American Black Arts Movement of the 60s and 70s, which included artists and writers like Amiri Baraka, Audre Lorde, Larry Neal and Maya Angelou. The group were all from the British African-Caribbean community and exhibited at a number of galleries across the country. For almost 20 years, they collectively and individually pursued themes of politics, gender, class and race. Their work has been cited as an inspiration by many black artists that followed, including Chris Ofili and Steve McQueen, both of whom went on to win Turner Prizes. Joining Kirsty Wark are: artist and curator, Marlene Smith and Wenda Leslie, both founding members of the BLK Art Group, and Eugene Palmer, best known for creating archival and multi-textured pieces, who was also a member of the group; Tam Joseph, whose best-known work Spirit of the Carnival portrayed a traditionally exuberant carnival figure penned in by police wielding riot shields, explored similar themes and was closely associated with the BLK Art Group; and Pogus Caesar who observed and photographed many of the artists and their work. Producer: Rema Mukena Series Producer: David Prest A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4