Events
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.