Marcia Patterson:

Inspiring Black British Artist

Art through Adversity

Some emotions can’t be captured in words but they can live on the canvas. Through my art, I explore grief, hope, healing, and resilience. Painting has become my sanctuary; a place where I process loss and rebuild strength. Whether it's sadness, determination, or joy, each brushstroke is a piece of me.

My self-portraits reflect life’s quiet storms and triumphant moments, offering an honest view from the standpoint of a mature female black artist today. My work invites others to find their own story in the silence between the lines.

  • “Can we all channel our trauma in creatively productive ways? Absolutely!...”

    Scott Barry Kaufman, Beautiful Minds

  • “Painting completed my life. I lost three children and a series of other things that would have fulfilled my horrible life. My painting took the place of all of this. I think work is best”

    Frida Kahlo

  • “Art is the greatest asset to mental health I have; it has this amazing ability to go under the radar and it goes down little pathways which are untrodden and yet it’s still a very legitimate way of thinking and feeling and getting on with life”

    Grayson Perry

  • “I create in order not to cry”

    Painter Paul Klee

  • “Art is my cure to all this madness, sadness and loss of belonging in the world and through it, I’ll walk myself home.”

    Nikki Rowe - Author

Awards, Associations & Recognitions

2022 - Series 9, Episode 6

  • Foundation Course – Eastham College 1983-84

    BA Hons (3D Design) Furniture – Middlesex Polytechnic 1984 – 87

    City and Guilds certificate in Design and Craft - Level 2 – Bedford Arts and Crafts Centre 2003

    City and Guilds certificate in Design and Craft - Level 3 – Bedford Arts and Crafts Centre 2008

    Oil Painting Course – Central St Martins London 2016

  • Zelli Porcelain Award – Exhibition of shortlisted ceramic pieces - Chiltern St London W1 - March 2008. Group Exhibition

    Life and Maturity, Expressions in Art – Bedford School 2018. Group Exhibition

    Art Compendium January 2020 – Elizabeth James Gallery Croydon. Group Exhibition

    Pop up ‘house gallery’ show casing local Bedford artists – The Small Drawing Room, Clarendon Street Bedford – June 2021. Solo Exhibition

    Made in 2022 Exhibition - Peterborough Cathedral 8th February - 2nd March 2023. Group Exhibition

    Philharmonia Chamber Players at Cromwell Place London - ‘Women in Art’. 11th March 2023. Exhibiting Resolute and Focus self -portraits. Group Exhibition

    Pouring from a Vessel of Knowledge - Gallery OCA - Cromwell Place London. 26th June - 2nd July 2023. Group Exhibition.

    ArtSpace Innovations - The Holy Art Gallery for London Under Ground Great Portland St Station Exhibiting Crossed Legged self-portrait 10th March 2024. Group Exhibition

    EmpowerHER: IWD Exhibition Casildart Connaught St London W2. Exhibiting Resolute self-portrait 14th March 2024. Group Exhibition

    sophiessecretpostcards - Donation of art for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity Auction - Woman in Blue submitted June 2024. Group Exhibition

    Untitled Gallery Artist's Fair Chelsea Old Town Hall., King's Road, London July 2024.

  • Portrait Artist of the Year heats – Battersea Arts Centre – 2022

    Women In Art Prize - Longlist 2023

  • Visual Arts Association - Working member from January 2024

  • Bedford Arts and Crafts Centre

    Run/facilitate life drawing sessions part-time since September 2022

Marcia Patterson is a celebrated Black British artist, known for powerful self-portraits that explore identity, grief, and emotional resilience. With roots in British black art, her work challenges convention and speaks directly to the viewer’s sense of self.

As a leading black woman artist in Bedford, Marcia creates work that resonates across communities, blending personal history with universal emotion. Her style captures raw truth, from intimate sorrow to moments of profound transformation. Her contribution to contemporary black artists in the UK is a vital part of the ongoing cultural dialogue.

Her art stands proudly among the work of other black artists in the UK, drawing on themes of heritage, womanhood, and healing. Each painting reflects the depth of experience behind it, making her a vital voice in modern black artists circles today.

Explore the expressive, vulnerable, and honest world of one of today’s most important black portrait artists.

Black Female Artists: Cultural Significance Through Our History

Throughout history, black female artists have played a vital role in shaping how we see, feel, and understand culture. Their work not only captures moments in time, it tells stories often left out of mainstream narratives.

From early struggles against erasure to becoming leading voices in contemporary art, female black artists continue to break boundaries. They challenge perceptions of beauty, power, and identity - often while carrying the double weight of racism and sexism. Their portraits, sculptures, and paintings become acts of resistance, healing, and celebration.

Artists like Marcia Patterson, with her emotive self-portraits and deep storytelling, add to this tradition. She follows in the footsteps of female portrait artists and black modern artists who use their creativity as a platform for change. Her work joins a legacy of black painting artists who bring voice to the voiceless and offer representation for those who rarely see themselves in galleries or public collections.

As we look at the growing recognition of black contemporary artists, it’s clear that black women are not just participants in art history - they are shaping its future.

Contact me.

marciapatterson609@gmail.com