Alayo Akinkugbe explores Black perspectives in art history and highlights Clara Walker's significant contributions. Walker’s art, ranging from early 90s paintings to her latest immersive installations, examines themes of visibility and erasure, particularly regarding Black identity. In her prominent works, such as the Vanishing Point series and Burden of Proof, Walker addresses injustices, including the Windrush Scandal and racial profiling, particularly reflecting on her son’s experiences with police discrimination. Through her exhibitions, she pushes for broader representation and acknowledgment of marginalized voices within the art world.
In the following conversation, Barbara Walker reflects on her ongoing passion for both painting and drawing, the personal impact of witnessing her son face repeated discrimination through stop-and-search encounters with the police.
A common subject across Walker's work is visibility and erasure. In her Vanishing Point series, she spotlights Black figures relegated to the margins, corners, and backgrounds of well-known paintings.
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