Drawing from Turner nominated artist goes on display at the Herbert's Collecting Coventry

18 October 2024

A work of art by a renowned artist nominated for this year’s prestigious Turner Prize has gone on display in a Coventry venue.

Claudette Johnson’s drawing Doing Lines 1 (Lockdown) Line Journeys can be seen now after it was installed at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum’s popular Collecting Coventry exhibition. 

A visual artist known for her powerful figurative work that celebrates the presence and humanity of Black women, Johnson was awarded an MBE for services to art and her significant contribution to society in 2022.

A founding member of the BLK Art Group, she emerged in the 1980s as a prominent voice in the Black British Arts Movement. Johnson's work has been exhibited widely, contributing to the discourse on identity, race, and representation in contemporary art. 

Acquired by the Herbert in 2020, Doing Lines 1 (Lockdown) Line Journeys is a self-portrait drawn in oil pastel on paper. It was created at the height of the first Covid-19 lockdown. 

At the time of the acquisition, Johnson said: “This is part of a series of larger scale 'warm-up' drawings - the equivalent of scales practise for a pianist. I make them when I have no sitters when I want to work from life, as a way of exploring line, trying to find a new way across a familiar body; when I want to work freely without too much reflection but at the same time with deep concentration.”

It had been on loan to the Barber Institute of Fine Arts but recently made a welcome return to the Herbert and was installed in Collecting Coventry, an exhibition which celebrates the Herbert’s rich collections and also seeks public feedback on what collections it should collect.

Celebrating its 40 year anniversary, the Turner Prize is one of the UK’s most prestigious art awards. Johnson has been nominated for two shows: Presence at The Courtauld Gallery in London and Drawn Out at Ortuzar Projects in New York

A spokesperson for the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum said: “Claudette Johnson is celebrated as one of Britain’s most accomplished figurative artists, known for her striking portrayals of the Black community that convey both depth and humanity. 

“We first had the honour of showcasing Johnson’s work back in 1983, during a pioneering exhibition by the BLK Art Group, and it’s incredibly rewarding to now have her work as part of our permanent collection and on display as part of Collecting Coventry. 

“Her artistry is something we’ve admired for a long time, and we believe this piece will resonate strongly with our visitors and spark meaningful engagement.”

Picture credit:

Claudette Johnson
Doing Lines 1 (Lockdown) Line Journeys, 2020
Oil pastel on paper
102.0h x 77.5w cm
© Claudette Johnson
Courtesy of the Artist and Hollybush Gardens, London 
Photo: Andy Keate