All eyes are on Somerset House to witness a legacy in the making with the opening of the hotly anticipated exhibition BLACK VENUS. Curated by curator, historian, and previous Monday Muse, Aindrea Emelife, BLACK VENUS includes works from over 20 women and non-binary artists who delve into the topics of othering and fetishism as they reclaim the narrative around Black femininity.
 
Tracking how Black womanhood has shifted in the public consciousness, the exhibition pairs contemporary artworks and images with selected archival work dated between 1793 and 1930. Sat next to each other, the works confront political and socio-economic understanding in different stages of history. While exploring this complex narrative of Black womanhood, the exhibition is anchored by three thematic pillars representing perceived paradigms: the Hottentot Venus, the Stable Venus and the Jezebel. Each pillar takes on a canon story of Black women in visual culture while examining the shift in these archetypes over time. Through the lens of Sonia Boyce, Carrie Mae Weems, Ming Smith, Zanele Muholi and Ayana V Jackson, be a part of reshaping a more inclusive history. 
 
BLACK VENUS debuted in 2022 at New York’s Fotografiska before its residency at San Francisco’s Museum of the African Diaspora, and now at Somerset House features a new reworking of the themes, 19 new world and 6 UK-based artists in the lineup.