100 UCL Employees: How You See Us

Portrait exhibition celebrating African and Caribbean heritage at UCL

We invite you to discover 100 portraits of African and Caribbean employees at UCL, celebrating their heritage and contributions to the university. Experience the richness of diversity through a fresh, intersectional perspective.

Open to the public, this unique collection of 100 portraits captures 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 serves 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. 

‘100 UCL Employees: How You See Us’ is based at the Ground Floor Exhibition Space, 22 Gordon Street, London, WC1H OQB, and is open to the public from Friday 1 November 2024 through to Friday 17 January 2025. It will then be relocated to other parts of UCL – locations to be decided – in the New Year.

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. It’s a powerful reminder of what we achieve when we recognise and celebrate all members of our community, and I urge everyone to explore it. - Dr Michael Spence, President & Provost of UCL

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, Therese Dawkins and Sara Shafiei, and all the sitters, so I warmly encourage you all to visit the exhibition. Finally, don't just look at the photographs - slow down and take time to really see 100 black UCL employees. Likewise, don't just listen to their stories - slow down and take time to really hear 100 black UCL employees. - Professor Jacqui Glass, Dean of the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment

Launch event photo gallery

Explore the exhibition

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

Links

• 100 UCL Employees: How You See Us Exhibition
• New portrait exhibition celebrates African and Caribbean heritage at UCL