The first major survey exhibition by British artist Barbara Walker, described as one of the most important British artists working today, Being Here charts the artist’s compelling figurative practice, from the 1990s to today.
Following a hugely sucessful run at The Whitworth Being Here presents almost 60 extraordinary artworks, including rarely seen early paintings of Walker’s family, friends and community in her home city of Birmingham, along with her Turner Prize nominated monumental drawing series Burden of Proof (2022-23), which illustrates the impact on the lives of those affected by the Windrush scandal.
For over twenty-five years, Walker has been making intensely observed and empathetic figurative work that creates space for Black presence, power and belonging. Ranging from delicate graphite drawings on archival documents to embossed reliefs spotlighting marginalised Black figures in old Master paintings, Walker tackles wide-ranging themes such as the policing and surveillance of Black life, twentieth-century war histories and immigration to challenge conventions of representation and the histories they are rooted in.
The exhibition includes works from across the six major series Walker has made to date; Private Face (1998 to 2005), Louder Than Words (2006 to 2009), Show and Tell (2008 to 2015), Shock and Awe (2015 to 2020), Vanishing Point (2018 – ongoing) and Burden of Proof (2022 to 2023), alongside Soft Power a major new commission of wallpaper, inspired by the Whitworth’s collection, that continues her representation of the Windrush generation.
“To be an artist to create in times of adversity, is, I believe to be optimistic. In my work as an artist, I have sought to make ‘positive images’, or perhaps images that will have a positive impact. I love working with people who are not used to having their voices heard. People who are often made visible in only the worst ways. I want to help make people visible in the best ways ways possible, by creating affirming images that speak of and to humanity.” Barbara Walker
Image: Barbara Walker, End of the Affair, 2023. Graphite, charcoal, pastel and conte on paper.
Photo by Chris Keenan @primeobjective.
The exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue featuring new essays on Walker’s practice by Mora J. Beauchamp-Byrd, Eddie Chambers, Alice Correia, Leanne Green, Rianna Jade Parker and the exhibition curators Poppy Bowers and Hannah Vollam. It includes it includes an introduction by Sook-Kyung Lee, Director at The Whitworth, and Suzanne Rolt, Director at Arnolfini, and will be available to buy from Arnolfini Bookshop throughout the exhibition.
Barbara Walker: Being Here is organised by The Whitworth, The University of Manchester in collaboration with Arnolfini. It is curated by Poppy Bowers and Hannah Vollam from The Whitworth and adapted for Arnolfini by Gemma Brace and Kiara Corales.
Mixed media with graphite, conte and pastel on paper.
151.8cm x 108.7cm. Photo by Chris Keenan @primeobjective. Courtesy of the artist and Cristea Roberts Gallery, London. Copyright Barbara Walker. All rights reserved DACS/Artimage 2024
Barbara Walker: Being Here is accompanied by a programme of workshops, community and live events.
About the Artist
Barbara Walker
Barbara Walker is a British artist described by art historian Eddie Chambers as “one of the most talented, productive and committed artists of her generation.” Her first major survey exhibition is shown at Arnolfini, Bristol in Spring 2025.
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