Barbara Walker's Whitworth retrospective challenges visibility narratives in Black figurative art

The Whitworth Gallery in Manchester is hosting Barbara Walker's retrospective titled 'Being Here,' which will be open until 26 January 2025. This exhibition highlights six significant series from her 25-year artistic journey. Among the showcased works are early oil paintings from the Private Faces series (1998-2002), which focus on Birmingham's Afro-Caribbean community, and her Burden of Proof series (2022), nominated for the Turner Prize in 2023, depicting members of the Windrush Generation impacted by the 2012 Hostile Environment Policy. Walker's art critiques state violence, exemplified by Louder Than Words (2009), referencing her son's 'Stop and Search' experiences. The exhibition also features large-scale pencil drawings designed to be erased post-exhibition, raising questions about the effectiveness of visibility in combating systemic violence.