Beyond Activism: Neil Kenlock's Fashion and Beauty Photography

Neil Kenlock is best known for his photographs documenting Black British activism, community life and the British Black Panther movement. However, his archive also includes an extensive collection of portrait, fashion and beauty photography, reflecting the breadth of his creative practice.

During the 1970s and beyond, Kenlock photographed style, culture and self-expression within Black communities, creating images that celebrated confidence, individuality and beauty. This important body of work was highlighted in his exhibition Beautiful Black Women – 70s Style, which explored representations of Black beauty through photography.

Today, these images continue to reach international audiences. One example is Beauty Queens, a photograph from the archive that was selected for a catalogue accompanying Ideas of Africa: Portraiture and Political Imagination, a project presented by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.