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In her photography series Paint it Black, Leah Jones places herself at the centre of some of the world’s most famous artworks – including The Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and The Scream – using digital self-portraiture to ask a powerful question: who has been left out of art history?

Her playful yet provocative images use humour and symbolism to confront the absence of people of colour in the traditional Western art canon. Leah draws on both her Jamaican heritage and British upbringing, injecting iconic imagery with cultural references that challenge stereotypes and reframe the stories being told.

In one piece, she transforms Albrecht Dürer’s solemn Self-Portrait by replacing a sacred gesture with the playful “gun fingers” hand sign, swapping Latin for Jamaican Patois. In another, titled The Daughter of Stereotype, she replaces Magritte’s surreal green apple with a piece of fried chicken – a biting commentary on racial clichés in visual culture.

Other reimagined works in the series include nods to Girl with a Pearl Earring, American Gothic, Salvator Mundi, and Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait – all reshaped through Leah’s lens as a Black British woman.

Leah’s work will be on show at the University of °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ’s 2025 Graduate Show, a public exhibition running from 31 May to 8 June. Visitors can expect to see a wide range of work – from digital installations to handcrafted design – celebrating the creativity and talent of °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ’s graduating students. 

Leah explains: “My work explores identity, race, and representation, using photography as both a reflective tool and a means of subversion. °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ offered a great mix of practical skills and theory, which helped me push my ideas further. I was also drawn to the creative atmosphere of the city itself as it felt like a place where I could explore and grow.

“One of the best parts has been working with other creatives. Being surrounded by people from different backgrounds and experiences really helped me refine my ideas and approach things in new ways. There were a few tutors who really encouraged me to push beyond my comfort zone. One tutor, in particular, advised me to embrace the complexities of my cultural identity rather than simplify them for broader appeal. That was a turning point in my confidence as an artist and in how I approach my work.”

Holly Birtles, Photography BA(Hons) course leader said: “Leah’s work addresses the historical absence of Black figures in Western art history through a powerful series of performative studio portraits. Her subversion of dominant art historical narratives results in inclusive reimagining’s that inform critical questions regarding cultural identity.

“This year’s graduating cohort presents an excellent exhibition that reflects a dynamic engagement with both global and local issues. Each project is critically informed and technically refined, showcasing a diverse range of approaches. The subjects explored are wide-ranging, encompassing gender, displacement, neurodivergence, sustainability, archival practices, specialist communities, cultural history, diaspora, familial memory, and language.”

Projects like Leah’s show how art can spark dialogue, challenge norms, and invite new voices into long-standing cultural spaces. The University of °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ is proud to support projects like Leah’s, which push boundaries, celebrate identity, and empower students to shape the future through creativity.

The University of °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ’s 2025 Graduate Shows are open to the public until 8 June, offering a chance to explore the next wave of creative talent through exhibitions, installations, and performances across the city.

The university has several upcoming open days – an excellent opportunity to explore our courses and campuses, meet staff, experience student life, discover our facilities, and get to know the vibrant city of °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ. Open days are held at each of our three campuses in °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ: City, Moulsecoomb, and Falmer. Each event highlights the subjects taught at that campus.

Summer 2025 Undergraduate Open Days

• City campus
  Saturday 7 June 9.30am–4pm

• Moulsecoomb campus
  Saturday 14 June 9.30am–4pm

• Falmer campus
  Friday 27 June 10am–4pm
  Saturday 28 June 10am–4pm

Summer 2025 Postgraduate Events

• School of Applied Sciences Postgraduate Information Session
  Moulsecoomb campus
  Saturday 14 June 11am–2pm

If you can't make it to our June open day, you can take a tour of our campuses in July.