Artist: Eileen Perrier

Autograph is developing the first comprehensive exhibition of Eileen Perrier’s work. Since the 1990s, Perrier’s work has challenged the conventions of portraiture, reimagining the tropes of 19th-century European and contemporary African studio portraiture. Created with and within communities, her photography has evolved into a form of social engagement, acknowledging the profound value of being seen.

A Thousand Small Stories will bring together more than 60 works by the artist, including photographs from Perrier’s series Ghana (1995-96), Red, Gold and Green (1997), Afro Hair and Beauty Show (1998-2003), Grace (2000) and Peckham Square Studio (2014). These will be presented alongside a new artist commission displayed on the outside of Autograph’s building in Shoreditch.

This exhibition forms part of Autograph’s continued commitment to curate and preserve the legacy of important black women practitioners such as Perrier, and to ensure that their significant contributions to the cultural history of photography are recognised.