Bolanle Tajudeen founded Black Blossoms in 2015 to showcase the work of contemporary artists of colour. 

In 2020, Bolanle launched the Black Blossoms School of Art and Culture, an initiative highlighting the art histories and creative practices of artists from historically marginalised backgrounds. As an alternative art school, Black Blossoms offers short educational courses including Art and Revolutionary China, Black British Art, The Black Image in London Galleries, and Curating Black Art.

Lou & Bolanle discuss her shift in focus from studying politics, to art at UAL where, as the Vice President of the Student Union she co-founded UAL So White to address the lack of diversity in teaching staff. At the time there were 1,300 white and 126 BAME staff.

Black Blossoms provides public programming for Art on the Underground and partners include The Photographer's Gallery and Tate. We also discuss the media backlash Bolanle received following her Art on the Underground public programme. We round up hearing about Flourish Black Blossoms forthcoming event at Tate inspired by The Unfinished Conversation display curated by Aicha Mehrez.

Shade Podcast is written, hosted and produced by Lou Mensah

Music Shaded generously composed by Brian Jackson

Thank you for listening and for supporting Shade - an independent art show highlighting the work of Black art practitioners via Patreon and Ko-fi

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Black Blossoms Flourish at Tate

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