Art Materials and Empire
Where do art materials come from? Who was involved in their extraction and processing? What ecologies, labour relations, and colonial power dynamics do these materials embody?
Join artist Dr Bharti Parmar and art historian Dr Kate Nichols to explore the connections between art materials and empire, past and present.
Each speaker will reflect on how their work considers the relationship between art materials and imperialism, followed by a conversation and Q&A. Parmar will discuss her engagement with cotton, while Nichols examines the varnishes and oils used by Victorian artists. Together, we will consider the new stories we might tell about art works if we take seriously the stuff that they are made from.
Date: 07/10/2026 to 07/10/2026
Time: 4:15 pm – 5:30 pm
Organisation: University of Birmingham
Type: Hybrid
Location: University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT,
Free Event: no booking required