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Launch of Black at Sussex Alumni Portraits with Eddie Otchere
Clive Myrie Portrait
About the Event
Join us in the Library for the launch of Black at Sussex: Alumni Portraits, a powerful new exhibition honouring the contributions and experiences of Black Sussex alumni.
This intimate and striking portrait series, shot by acclaimed photographers Eddie Otchere and Charlie Phillips, captures the legacy of Black students who have shaped the university community and whose impact continues to resonate far beyond campus.
The launch event will include a short introduction to the project, the unveiling of the portraits, and an opportunity to hear more about the people behind the lens and those in front of it. Light refreshments will be served.
How the Project Began
The Black at Sussex alumni portrait project was born from a simple but urgent idea: to make visible the lives, stories and impact of Black students and graduates whose presence has too often gone undocumented.
In 2023, the Black at Sussex programme commissioned this series to explore questions of legacy, representation and belonging. From early conversations with photographer Charlie Phillips, a legendary documentarian of Black British life - to the collaboration with Eddie Otchere, best known for his portraits of Black cultural icons, the project quickly became an ambitious visual archive.
This exhibition is the first public showing of the work, which may grow over time to include more alumni and voices from across generations and disciplines.
Why It Matters
At a university that is actively reckoning with its role in creating an inclusive and equitable environment, this project stands as both celebration and critique - an artistic intervention that honours presence, challenges erasure and affirms that Black lives and contributions are part of Sussex's past, present and future.
We hope you’ll join us for this special evening.
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Propose an exhibition or event
We welcome proposals from University of Sussex colleagues to co-produce exhibitions and/or events in designated spaces in our buildings. If you wish to propose or design an exhibition for spaces within the Library and any associated digital or event activities that accompany an exhibition, please complete the Exhibition and events application form and submit to us by uploading below.
Applications should be submitted with at least six months’ notice for exhibitions and three months' notice for events in advance of the proposed start date and require relevant sign-off at Associate Dean, Executive Dean or Director of Professional Services level. This application should be completed in conjunction with the Exhibition and Events process document.