Artists to Depict Black History in St. Albans

Artists Announced for St Albans Commission

8 May 2025
Article by Elinor Byrne | 6 MIN READ

"It's exciting to see a new group of artists responding to such important work. Each will bring a fresh perspective and helps new audiences connect deeper to these stories."

— Katherine Thomas-Ferdinand, Curator - The Thomas-Ferdinand Gallery & Artist Selection Committee

Dateline: London, UK – 01 May, 2025

Six emerging artists and illustrators have been selected to create new artworks for the Black History Research Group’s upcoming zine and exhibition, launching this October as part of Black History Month. Their work will respond to themes from local Black histories, from Roman Britain to the 20th-century NHS, and will be shared in both printed and gallery formats. The project shines a light on Hertfordshire’s hidden histories and the artists helping to bring them to life.

Celebrating Local Black History

The Black History Research Group (BHRG), a collective managed by St Albans Museum + Gallery, is creating a zine and exhibition to share stories of Black people connected to Hertfordshire across centuries. Topics include Black soldiers in Roman St Albans (Verulamium), Black abolitionists active in the county, Caribbean NHS workers of the 20th century, and the role of local industries in the economy of slavery.

Following an open call, six artists with lived experience were selected to respond to this research:

Sarah Ushurhe (@hellosarahart)

Aislinn Finnegan (@aislinn.art)

Baraka Carberry (@bokiba____)

Jordan English (@joesart.co.uk)

Venetta Nicole (@Venetta__Nicole)

Jahnavi Inniss (@jahnavinniss)

Their works, spanning painting, illustration, drawing and textiles, will appear in the BHRG Zine, which will be on sale from October 2025, and in a dedicated exhibition at St Albans Museum + Gallery (1 October – 2 November 2025).

The Project Brief

The commission invites each artist to create original visual works that translate BHRG’s historical research into accessible, emotional, and visually compelling forms. Their artworks will honour real people, challenge historic omissions, and engage contemporary audiences with stories that continue to resonate today.

Graphic designer Emma Make (@emma.make) has also been commissioned to design the zine, bringing together text and imagery in a cohesive, accessible format. The project centres lived experience, not only in its artistic content, but also in how the museum is supporting contributors. All participants are paid for their work, with wellbeing and support measures embedded in the project timeline from the outset.

Previous artists to exhibit at St Albans Museum + Gallery include Rana Begum and Anna Ray. The inclusion of these six new voices builds on that legacy, while foregrounding stories that have often been overlooked in traditional museum narratives.

A Space for Reflection and Dialogue

Beyond its visual impact, the project opens up space for public learning and community dialogue. By connecting past and present, it invites questions about how Black lives have shaped Hertfordshire, and how those contributions can be better acknowledged in the future.

For the artists, the exhibition is both an opportunity and a responsibility: to honour complex histories while offering new ways of seeing. For audiences, it offers the chance to engage with a broader and more inclusive understanding of local history.