Students’ Union UCL celebrates Black History Month

Black History Month is a dedicated time to acknowledge, celebrate, share and understand the impact of Black heritage and culture – something which is often underrepresented or overlooked.

Given the diversity of the student body within UCL, Students Union UCL has taken this opportunity to showcase and highlight Black artistic talent with a display in the South Cloisters, aiming to give visibility to the range of voices and experiences from across UCL.

Zuva Dengu

Zuva’s applique portraits feature her family members. She makes these simply to show appreciation for her family, but also to celebrate Blackness and the African identity as she believes this is what the world needs more of.

Stephanie Iyala

Stephanie Iyala’s work explores how depictions of ideal Black women are constructed to fit with societal values. She blurs fictional drawings of Black women with real-life places to demonstrate how Black women are often only accepted by wider society if they alter themselves. Stephanie believes that as a result of this, only certain aspects of Black femininity and culture are accepted by wider society, for example R’n’B and wearing gold, but not having dark Black skin.

Muna Kosarachi Aghamelu

Muna Kosarachi Aghamelu is an artist from London. She creates art with a focus on portraiture and figurative painting. Her work is inspired by her everyday lived experience, and the exploration of history and identity through research. Featured in the display is a selection of paintings she has created from the age of 16 until now (age 22).