Celebrating the Legacy of Eric and Jessica Huntley Through Sharon Walters’ Artwork at the National Portrait Gallery
On August 2nd, 2024, the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) will unveil a powerful new artwork by Ealing-based artist Sharon Walters, commissioned as part of the Citizen UK Ealing Rises Up project. The portrait, depicting pioneering publishers and activists Eric and Jessica Huntley, will be displayed in NPG’s newly launched Educational Resource Centre. This event marks a significant moment, not just in the ongoing recognition of Black British history, but in the celebration of the Citizen UK Ealing project’s broader impact.
Eric and Jessica Huntley, who emigrated from Guyana to the UK in the late 1950s, are renowned for their immense contributions to Black and Asian literature and social activism. In 1968, they co-founded Bogle-L’Ouverture Publications, one of the first Black-led independent publishing houses in the UK, named in honor of Caribbean liberation fighters Toussaint L’Ouverture and Paul Bogle. The Huntleys’ legacy is deeply intertwined with the cultural and political fabric of Britain, particularly within the Black community, and their work has inspired generations.
Sharon Walters, an artist who grew up in the same community that the Huntleys nurtured and empowered, was chosen to bring their story to life through her art. Walters attended the Saturday school established by the Huntleys, a space that educated, supported, and inspired Black children of the African diaspora. Reflecting on the opportunity to create this portrait, Walters shared, “Creating this work remains one of my greatest achievements; it was a huge honour to make the piece. I have a close connection with the legendary couple as I attended their Saturday school as a child.”
The unveiling of the portrait will be a moment of reflection and celebration. It offers an opportunity to honour all contributions to the Citizen UK Ealing Rises Up project and to appreciate the significance of this new acquisition by the National Portrait Gallery. The event will also provide attendees with the chance to explore the NPG’s wider galleries, enjoy refreshments, and gather in the new learning center—a space designed to foster creativity, learning, and community.
Beverley Mason, reflecting on the impact of the work and the event, said, “It’s a real honour to see how with Sharon’s vision for celebrating Jessica’s and Eric’s legacy is reflected in the beautiful portrait. FHALMA was pleased to have supported her artistic vision with the creative presentation of archive source materials. The stunning new education space and NPG’s support for young people’s journey is something that may have blown Jessica’s mind—from their first children’s book, *Getting to Know Ourselves*, published by Bogle-L’Ouverture in 1972, to today, being part of a dedicated space to create, learn, and share in an iconic global gallery. It’s a great connection, centering young people at the heart of this work.”
As this portrait takes its place in the National Portrait Gallery, it serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of Eric and Jessica Huntley—a legacy that continues to inspire and uplift, captured beautifully through Sharon Walters’ artistic lens. This event not only commemorates their contributions but also celebrates the ongoing work of the Citizen UK Ealing project and its profound impact on the community.
We invite everyone to join us at the National Portrait Gallery to celebrate this remarkable moment and to explore the new Educational Resource Centre, a space dedicated to the future generation’s creativity, learning, and shared histories.
https://www.npg.org.uk/visit/inspiring-people-across-the-uk/citizen-uk/citizen-uk-ealing-rises-up/
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