A Brief History of Black British Art

Bold, brilliant, and long overdue. Written by critic and curator Rianna Jade Parker, A Brief History of Black British Art tells the powerful story of Black artists of African and Caribbean descent and their extraordinary impact on Britain’s art history. From the groundbreaking London-based Caribbean Artists Movement of the 1960s to today’s most exciting contemporary voices, this book brings long-overlooked stories into the spotlight where they belong.

Featuring the work of more than 60 Black British artists and over 70 stunning color reproductions, this concise yet rich volume offers a fresh lens on the political, cultural, and creative forces that have shaped Black British art. Through themes of race, nationhood, gender, class, sexuality, citizenship, and aesthetics, it explores what it has meant—and still means—to create art in Britain as part of the Black British experience.

At a moment when representation, visibility, and accountability in the art world matter more than ever, this book feels both timely and essential. Accessible, beautifully designed, and deeply thoughtful, it celebrates Black artists not as footnotes in history, but as central figures shaping art and global culture.

With 160 pages packed into a compact 6.8 x 5.5 inch format, this is the perfect book to read, reference, and return to again and again. Part of the Brief Histories series, it’s an inspiring introduction and a powerful statement all in one.

A celebration. A correction. A must-read.

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