Peckham Portraits: Back where they belong

With October officially celebrating ‘Black History Month’ it’s the perfect time to see the much-anticipated return of UNDEREXPOSED ARTS ‘Peckham Portraits’.

‘Peckham Portraits’ by award-winning photographer Franklyn Rodgers, is a collection of portraits depicting black British, dual heritage African/Caribbean actors which once lined the Peckham Hill Street for almost 10 years, becoming one of London’s longest-running public art installations.

They are set to be reinstated at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts (on Peckham Hill Street) from mid-October during this year’s Black History Month celebrations as homage to the Peckham community.

The large-scale portrait photographs, which include stars of stage and screen, such as Idris Elba, Adjoa Andoh, Kwame Kwei-Armah (now Artistic Director of the Young Vic theatre), David Oyelowo, Diane Parish, Colin Salmon and Rudolph Walker, were captured by award-winning visual artist Franklyn Rodgers. They also feature inspirational quotes - ‘Gems of knowledge’, from each actor.

UNDEREXPOSED ARTS is founded by film and television actor Fraser James to address the perceived lack of positive black role models something often cited as a contributory cause of crime and violence amongst the young black community. Fraser James says: “When we launched, I remember commenting that ‘role models are the foundation of aspiration’. The ‘Peckham Portraits’ – one of the first UNDEREXPOSED ARTS artistic interventions, originally made their debut at the National Portrait Gallery in 2008, before being installed at their Peckham Hill Street home.

It’s projects like this that make us proud to be part of such a creative, diverse and aspirational community.
The portraits will re-launch on the 15th October at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts

120 Peckham Hill St, Peckham, London SE15 5JT