BREAKING BARRIERS

We look to leaders for inspiration, guidance and to drive positive change. Portrayed as pillars of strength, the intricacies of their journeys as well as the various obstacles overcome by those in leadership are often glossed over. Breaking Barriers: Stories of Black Leadership is a portrait commission by award-winning photographer Joy

Gregory that aims to make visible the journeys of pioneering Black British women who have rightfully taken their seats at the table. Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE, Hon. Dame Linda Dobbs DBE, Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon OBE, and Dr Shirley J. Thompson OBE have shared their personal experiences not only to bear witness to the excellence present in Britain’s Black communities but also to demonstrate to young people that ambition knows no bounds.

Drawing inspiration from the 16th and 17th century portraits of aristocrats that hang in Britain’s national collections, the body language of the portraits alludes to the inner strength that each woman has summoned throughout various points along her life’s path. Gregory’s decision to photograph the women in colour was inspired by the rich hues of the oil paints that were historically used to paint people in positions of power.