The Wick List

Viewing The Music is Black: A British Story

The Wick Culture - Adrian Boot, Tricky, 2006 © Photo by Adrian Boot, urbanimage.tv

Above Adrian Boot, Tricky, 2006 © Photo by Adrian Boot, urbanimage.tv

The Wick Culture - Dennis Morris, Bob Marley at the Lyceum Theatre, London, 1975 © Photo by Dennis Morris

Above Dennis Morris, Bob Marley at the Lyceum Theatre, London, 1975 © Photo by Dennis Morris

The Wick Culture - Eddie Otchere, Kemistry and Storm (The Diptych), 1995 © Photo by Eddie Otchere

Above Eddie Otchere, Kemistry and Storm (The Diptych), 1995 © Photo by Eddie Otchere

The Wick Culture - Donated by Joan Armatrading, Acoustic guitar, 1964 (purchased) Image courtesy of the V&A, London

Above Donated by Joan Armatrading, Acoustic guitar, 1964 (purchased) Image courtesy of the V&A, London

The Wick Culture - Jennie Baptiste, Sepia Butterfly, London, 1993 © Photo by Jennie Baptiste

Above Jennie Baptiste, Sepia Butterfly, London, 1993 © Photo by Jennie Baptiste

The Wick Culture - Sir Frank Bowling, Green Across, 2025 All Rights Reserved, DACS 2025 © Photo by Anna Arca Courtesy of Sir Frank Bowling

The Wick Culture - Soulla Petrou, Mis-Teeq, 2003 © Photo by Soulla Petrou

Above Soulla Petrou, Mis-Teeq, 2003 © Photo by Soulla Petrou

The Wick Culture - Poster advertising the performer Winston Reedy at Palais, Nottingham © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Above Poster advertising the performer Winston Reedy at Palais, Nottingham © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Above Adrian Boot, Tricky, 2006 © Photo by Adrian Boot, urbanimage.tv

Above Dennis Morris, Bob Marley at the Lyceum Theatre, London, 1975 © Photo by Dennis Morris

Above Eddie Otchere, Kemistry and Storm (The Diptych), 1995 © Photo by Eddie Otchere

Above Donated by Joan Armatrading, Acoustic guitar, 1964 (purchased) Image courtesy of the V&A, London

Above Jennie Baptiste, Sepia Butterfly, London, 1993 © Photo by Jennie Baptiste

Above Soulla Petrou, Mis-Teeq, 2003 © Photo by Soulla Petrou

Above Poster advertising the performer Winston Reedy at Palais, Nottingham © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

V&A East Museum
East Bank, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Stratford
London
18 April 2026 – 3 January 2027

The best of British.

Opening as V&A East Museum’s first major exhibition, The Music is Black: A British Story charts 125 years of Black music-making in Britain and its lasting influence on British culture. Spanning jazz, reggae, two-tone, drum & bass, trip hop, UK garage, grime and more, the exhibition brings together personal objects, painting, sculpture, fashion, photography, film, sound and more to tell a story of Black excellence, resilience and joy. Featured artists range from early pioneers such as Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Winifred Atwell and Emile Ford to major contemporary names including Little Simz and Jorja Smith.

An opening statement for the museum, The Music is Black Black British presents music not simply as sound but also as image, identity, protest and cultural force, with links across East Bank extending the conversation well beyond the gallery itself.