Work by contemporary Black British artists has gone on show at Wolverhampton Art Gallery as part of events to mark Black History Month in the city.

Following the success of a recent exhibition Black Art In Focus, the new show - Back to Black - features a selection of work by Black and Asian artists.

Back to Black includes some of the very latest items acquired through the Heritage Lottery Fund Collecting Cultures project as well as works from the gallery's existing collection.

Visitors can also listen to audio recordings of local artists and members of the community talking about their experiences and influences.

Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for City Economy, said: "Wolverhampton Art Gallery championed the start of the Black Art Movement in Britain and many of its local founder members have gone on to be incredibly influential artists on British culture.

"Back to Black presents a selection of vibrant artworks by Black British contemporary artists."

Other exhibits, such as Chila Kumari Burman's Ice Cream Vans and Untitled (1982) by local artist Sylbert Bolton, have been recently gifted to the gallery.

Despite their diverse styles, the works have a common theme. Each of them comments on the merging of cultural traditions, bringing together elements of modernism - usually associated with Western art history - and motifs, patterns or imagery associated with Africa or South Asia.

Back to Black is free and is hosted in the Victorian Gallery, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield Street, until Sunday 4 December, 2016.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery is on Lichfield Street and is open from Monday to Saturday from 10.30am to 4.30pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. For more details, visit Type=links;Linkid=6114;Title=Wolverhampton Arts and Heritage;Target=_blank; or call 01902 552055.

  • released: Thursday 6 October, 2016