Queens

'Queens' was a response to the national conversation in the UK around Queen Elizabeth and the monarchy following her platinum jubilee and subsequent passing, and an exploration of what a true Queen looks like. Featuring a diverse, multi-generational selection of Black British ‘Queens’ from my local area of Tottenham, London, QUEENS aims to shine a spotlight on the experience of Black British women and non-binary people within a country ruled by a monarchy that doesn’t look like them, represents a status quo that is often harmful to them, and whose life and experiences feel a world away from their own.

Queens also explores how creative expression allows us to see someone’s innate regality, using a creative mix of traditional regal elements such as swords and crowns, inspired by paintings of British Monarchs from the past, with African and Afro-futuristic elements that reflect the heritage and history of the participants.