Portrait exhibition celebrating African and Caribbean heritage at UCL
In October 2024 we unveiled 100 portraits of African and Caribbean employees at UCL, celebrating their heritage and contributions to the university, experiencing the richness of diversity through a fresh, intersectional perspective.
Open to the public for three months, this unique collection of 100 portraits captured the diversity of experiences within our UCL community, celebrating the heritage, culture, and vital contributions of these individuals.
Each portrait is accompanied by a personal audio narrative, allowing you to hear directly from the people behind the images—their stories, passions, and interests.
Speaking about the exhibition, Sara Shafiei and Teresa Dawkins said:
“We invite you to engage with the exhibition, immerse yourself in these powerful stories, and participate in conversations that reflect the rich tapestry of our community. Our heartfelt thanks go to the 100 UCL employees who generously shared their stories and portraits to this exhibition. Your openness and participation have made this celebration possible. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us.”
About the exhibition
The exhibition is sponsored by The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment, the UCL EDI Contribution and Engagement Fund, the UCL Student Success Office and the Provost’s office.
Curated by the Faculty of the Built Environment’s Sara Shafiei and Teresa Dawkins, 100 UCL Employees: How You See Us; its impact resonates across the university. The exhibition provides a unique opportunity to recognise and celebrate the individuals who shape life at UCL, uniting different parts of the university in a shared appreciation of our diverse community.
Launched on the final day of Black History Month 2024, the exhibition served as a powerful reminder that the acknowledgment and celebration of these contributions must live beyond a single moment in time and be woven into the fabric of our everyday culture and appreciation at UCL.
What the UCL community are saying
The ‘100 UCL Employees: How You See Us’ exhibition does more than honour the contributions of African and Caribbean staff at UCL; it underscores our commitment to creating a culture that celebrates diversity because we understand that it is fundamental to our excellence. Every portrait and every story displayed here reflects a piece of the UCL experience, demonstrating the depth, richness and talent that diversity brings to our institution.
The 100 UCL Employees initiative is a powerful innovation in representing black people within UCL. Seeing these beautiful portraits of African and Caribbean heritage colleagues displayed together in The Bartlett for the first time has been a highlight of 2024 for me. I am deeply grateful to the organisers, Teresa Dawkins and Sara Shafiei, and all the sitters, so I warmly encourage you all to visit the exhibition.
Launch event photo gallery
Featured Individuals | |||
| Omar Abbas | Luke Davis | Wilton Lodge | Ann Phoenix |
| Sonia Abrams | Teresa Dawkins | Natalie Marchant | Aaron Richards |
| Samuel Addo | Ibanga Effiong | Lehane Masebo | Mykal Riley |
| Joanna Addow | Inifuro Erenyanate | Gourdan Mathis-Grant | Fiona Rose-Clarke |
| Toyin Agbetu | Lisa Etamoje | Luther Mayers | Jamal Russell-Black |
| Sarah Akigbogun | Sharon Etienne | Maxwell Mutanda | Ngozi Sagay |
| Hussein Al-Bashuaib | Mary Evans | Giles Nartey | Sharron Alexander |
| Emmanuel Farinre | Denise Ndlovu | Gideon Sappor | Dele Anthony |
| Terrie Fiawoo | Helene Neveu Kringelbach | Dorcas Sebiotimo | Raymond Antwi |
| Adella Forder-Gore | Chika Nweke | Adey Shallow | Kimberley Aparisio |
| Charlotte Forshaw | Clive Nwonka | Victoria Showunmi | Samantha Arnold |
| Jessica Francis | Abel Nyamapfene | Chilima Sianyeuka | Louise Asomoah-Appiah |
| Jenn Griffin-Walters | Tina Nyazika | Yvonne Sibblies | Felicity Atekpe |
| Cara Hackleton | Kae Ohene-Yeboah | Lola Solebo | Dauda Bappa |
| Lois Haruna Cooper | Moses Oketch | Dana Sousa-Limbu | Lacara Barnes-Rowe |
| Onyaglanyu Idoko | Dolapo Oluteye | Michelle Stennett | Naomi Bell |
| Mohamed Ismail | Saiid Omar | Gillian Stokes | Verna Brandford |
| Marcia Jacks | Donatus Onyido | Michael Sulu | Chris Brew-Graves |
| James Jennings | Chizoba Onyiuke | Shanice Thomas | Lawrencia Louise Brown |
| Belindar Juma | Esther Osafo-Mensah | Ijeoma Uchegbu | Noël Caliste |
| Nai Lee Kalema | Yohance Osborne | Alison Wiggins | June Campbell |
| Galila Khougali | Simone Osei-Owusu | Paulette Williams | Robert Clarke |
| Temitope Ladenika | Beatrice Ossei-Gudom | Kate Corry | Temitayo Lawal |
| Natasha Otto | Terry Cummins | Simone Lewis | Richard Palmer |
| Donna Dalrymple | Allison Lindner | Drew Pessoa | |
Explore the exhibition digitally
Listen to the audio narratives
Listen to the 100 UCL Employees: How You See Us audio narratives on SoundCloud.
View the full photograph gallery
Discover 100 portraits of African and Caribbean employees at UCL, celebrating their heritage and contributions to the university.
Credits
Project Creators and Curators: Teresa Dawkins and Sara Shafiei
Portrait photographer: Richard Stonehouse of Stonehouse Photographic
Audio Editing: Jonathan Tyrell
Visual Identity: Britta Rogozinski
Marketing and Communications: UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment Communications Team/ UCL Office of the Vice-President External Engagement Communications Team
Exhibition launch photographer: James Tye / UCL