Weekly Artist Feature | Lubaina Himid
Lubaina Himid is a Zanzibari-born, UK-based artist and cultural activist whose work delves into themes of history, identity, and the African diaspora. A pivotal figure in the British Black Arts Movement since the 1980s, Himid has used her practice to champion the voices of Black artists and women of color, curating groundbreaking exhibitions and creating space for marginalized communities in the arts.
Her work is often informed by a deep commitment to addressing the erasure and misrepresentation of Black lives in dominant narratives, weaving in maritime and architectural motifs that evoke themes of displacement, belonging, and survival. Himid’s art is characterized by its bold use of color, intricate compositions, and the interplay between text and imagery, offering a dynamic dialogue with the past and present.
Himid lives and works in Preston, England, where she remains committed to creating art that challenges, inspires, and envisions a more equitable future.
Highlights:
- Humid won the Turner Prize in 2017 and was the first Black woman to win this prestigious award, recognized for her powerful figurative paintings and installations.
- Himid was promoted to Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2018 "for services to Art."
- She was awarded the Maria Lassnig Prize in 2023 for her innovative practice, with an exhibition at UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing.
- Her work is in the collections of the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles; Hessel Museum of Art, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York; Museum Ludwig, Cologne; National Museums, Liverpool; Rhode Island School of Design, Providence; Royal Academy, London; Tate, London; and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, among others.
- Click the link to learn more about Lubaina Himid and her work through her website and social media.
