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Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots

Somerset House, Terrace Rooms

17 Oct 2025 – 4 Jan 2026

Pay What You Can

https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/jennie-baptiste-rhythm-and-roots

  • Full public programme and details announced for first major solo exhibition from pioneering Black British Photographer Jennie Baptiste.
  • Featuring in-conversation event between Jennie Baptiste and legendary photographer and DJ Normski; curator and artist tours; relaxed session, Upgrade Yourself takeover; Skate Lates DJ session with DJ Shortee Blitz, and a special podcast episode.
  • Exhibition to explore fashion, music, and youth culture of London’s Black British Diaspora – plus in-depth focus on late 1990s hip-hop DJ scene.

Somerset House announces the complete public programme and exhibition details for Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots, the first major solo exhibition from trailblazing Black British photographer Jennie Baptiste, opening in Somerset House’s Terrace Rooms this October.

Commissioned as part of Somerset House’s 25th birthday programme, which champions alternative perspectives and diverse British creativity, this exhibition highlights the significance of Baptiste’s contribution to contemporary photography and British cultural history, offering a timely celebration of her enduring legacy.

Born in London to parents who migrated from St. Lucia in the 1960s, Jennie Baptiste roots her photographic process in authenticity and has often turned her lens to the ‘everyday icons’ within vibrant music cultures like dancehall and hip-hop.

Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots documents the fashion, music, and youth culture of the Black British diaspora in London since the 1990s.

The exhibition will span three rooms, offering a visual narrative of the dynamic movements which shaped and continue to define British music, fashion, and youth culture.

The first room will include highlights from Brixton Boyz, a series of late-90s street portraits capturing camaraderie and style among young Black men in South London; Dancehall, Baptiste’s ongoing documentation of London’s dancehall scene since 1993; and Black Chains of Icon, a more conceptual series exploring Black identity through layered visual symbolism, lith printing, and historical quotations.

The section will also feature striking images that explore the significance of tattoos and grillz. More than decorative adornments, these practices have long served as powerful expressions of embodiment and self-definition within Black communities. Emerging prominently through hip-hop culture, grillz in particular became symbols of style, resilience, and cultural pride, together they represent forms of art that move beyond aesthetics, embodying narratives of heritage, individuality, and empowerment.

Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots additionally explores Baptiste’s deep connection to music and its surrounding cultures. One section features striking portraits of influential artists from the Hip-Hop and R&B scenes, including The Notorious B.I.G., Roots Manuva, NAS, Ms Dynamite, Estelle, and Ty — capturing the charisma, style, and cultural impact of a generation.

The final section of the exhibition is dedicated to Revolutions @ 33 1/3 rpm, Baptiste’s in-depth documentation of London’s late-1990s hip-hop DJ scene. Originally produced for Levi’s store on Regent Street in 1999, this series is presented as diptychs: two photographs shown together to explore different aspects of a key figure, with DJs such as 279, Semtex, Shortee Blitz, MK, Misbehaviour, and Dj Pogo, and Cutmaster Swift featured.

The exhibition highlights Baptiste's immersion with record store culture, particularly at Deal Real, a pivotal spot where she built connections with many of the DJs she photographed. Each DJ featured in this exhibition has created a mix that ranges from 1989 to 2003. Visitors can listen to these mixes through headphones in the gallery, designed to recreate the once-common practice of discovering new music in record shops. The listening stations offer an immersive, analogue experience that brings the in-store ritual back to life, where music wasn’t just consumed but experienced, debated, and shared.

In addition to this, DJ Shortee Blitz, who was photographed by Jennie as part of Revolutions @ 33 1/3rpm, will be mastering the decks at the Somerset House open air ice rink, as part of Jennie Baptiste Skate Lates, while DJ 279 and turntablist and producer DJ Pogo, who are also featured in Revolutions @ 33 1/3rpm, will take part in the Jennie Baptiste Upgrade Yourself takeover.

Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots will coincide with the return of 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, the world's only international art fair dedicated to contemporary African art and its diaspora, which comes to Somerset House for its 13th edition in London between 16 – 19 October.

Jennie Baptiste has been specially commissioned to shoot portraits of the recipients of Somerset House's Talent 25 initiative, to showcase the creative connection and diverse creativity that is fostered at Somerset House. These portraits will be exhibited during Somerset House’s Step Inside 25th Birthday weekend, and throughout the Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots exhibition.

Kinnari Saraiya, Curator of Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots, said:

“We are delighted to announce our full public programme, and reveal more details about, Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots. This exhibition is a key part of Somerset House’s 25th Birthday programming, and it is an honour to host Jennie’s first major solo exhibition. Rhythm & Roots highlights the significant impact of her work, giving it the recognition it has long deserved.

“While Jennie’s photographs have been showcased in some groundbreaking exhibitions over many years, including in ‘The Missing Thread’ at Somerset House in 2023, this is a real opportunity to spotlight her trailblazing three-decade long photography practice.”

Jennie Baptiste said:

"This exhibition is a personal reflection on my journey as a photographer and a celebration of the vibrant, ever-evolving culture within the Black British community. Through my lens, I’ve sought to capture the energy, resilience, and creativity that has shaped youth culture, music, and fashion. 

“I hope that my photography inspires others to embrace their individuality and the power of their creative voice."

PUBLIC PROGRAMME:

The public programme includes a special in-conversation event with Jennie Baptiste and DJ and photographer Normski (Norman Anderson), guided tours of the exhibition with curator Kinnari Saraiya and Jennie Baptiste, a relaxed session for visitors who would like to explore the exhibition in a calm and quiet environment, and an exhibition takeover from Upgrade Yourself, Somerset House’s programme dedicated to supporting aspiring creatives aged 18-30.

Power of the Image: Jennie Baptiste in-conversation with Normski
18 October
14:00 – 15:30
Somerset House Screening Room (£10/£7.50 concession)

Co-hosted with 1-54 African Art Fair, this special conversation brings together two pivotal photographers of Black British culture. Jennie Baptiste and Normski (Norman Anderson) will discuss their parallel yet distinct journeys highlighting shared experiences, aesthetic approaches, and the mediation of identity through image.

Born to Caribbean families and raised in London, both artists use their cameras to elevate voices in dancehall, hip‑hop, and youth culture.

Exhibition Tour with Jennie Baptiste and curator Kinnari Saraiya
6 November
19:00 – 20:00
Terrace Rooms (£8/£6 concession)

Join photographer Jennie Baptiste and curator Kinnari Saraiya for an exhibition tour of Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots, offering first-hand insight into the stories, processes, and cultural moments behind the works on display.

Upgrade Yourself
13 November
18:00 – 22:00
Terrace Rooms, Seamen’s Hall, Great Arch Hall, Screening Room (Booking Required – Free)

Upgrade Yourself, Somerset House’s programme dedicated to supporting aspiring creatives aged 18-30 make meaningful connections with like-minded individuals and industry professionals, will host a one-night takeover of Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots.

This includes free after-hours entry to the exhibition, in addition to a host of activities, such as a zine and flyer workshop with Sweet-Thang founder Zoë Thompson, a DJ set from UK Hip-Hop pioneer DJ 279, aka The Number Man, a workshop on the Art of Mixing from DJ, turntablist, and former DMC UK DJ Champion, DJ Pogo, an in-conversation event with Jennie Baptiste - plus food, drink, and the opportunity to network with fellow creatives

For more information, and to book tickets, please visit https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/upgrade-yourself-takeovers

Please note this event is for 18–30-year-olds.

Jennie Baptiste Skate Lates
20 November
8pm – 11pm
Skate at Somerset House, Terrace Rooms (tickets from £15)

DJ Shortee Blitz, who was photographed by Jennie as part of Revolutions @ 33 1/3 rpm,  will be spinning tunes at the Somerset House open air ice rink, as part of a Skate Lates Jennie Baptiste takeover.

Over his three-decade long career, DJ and producer Shortee Blitz has built a reputation as one of the UK's most innovative DJs, and has worked with artist such as Mariah Carey, NAS, and Blak Twang, and is the in-house DJ on ITV2’s award-winning show Don’t Hate The Playaz.

Attendees will be able to ice skate beneath the stars until 11pm, while DJ Shortee Blitz sets the vibe rink side, in addition to having after-hours access to Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots.

Tickets on sale Thursday 2nd October. For more information, please visit https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/skate-somerset-house

Exhibition Tour with Jennie Baptiste and curator Kinnari Saraiya
22 November
17:00 – 18:00
Terrace Rooms (£8/£6 concession)

Join photographer Jennie Baptiste and curator Kinnari Saraiya for an exhibition tour of Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots, offering first-hand insight into the stories, processes, and cultural moments behind the works on display.

Relaxed Session
28 November
9:00-11:30
Terrace Rooms (Booking Required – Free)

Relaxed sessions are for visitors who would like to explore the exhibition in a calm and quiet environment. To ensure the exhibition is as accessible as possible, including for people with autism and other neurodiverse needs, as well as their friends, families and carers, adjustments are made including limiting the number of visitors for the session and lowering noise levels.

For more information and to book public programme events, please visit: https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/whats-on/jennie-baptiste-rhythm-and-roots

DIGITAL PROGRAMME:

Jennie Baptiste presents an episode of The Process, a Somerset House podcast series.

The Process is an artist-led podcast series, developed by Somerset House, which explores the new ideas, big questions and surprising tangents which emerge from the artistic process.

Drawing on the creative community both on site at Somerset House and from the exhibition programme, each episode follows artists as they explore one idea they’re currently pursuing, to see where it ends up.  From financial astrology to the black renaissance, quantum listening to the transformative powers of cute, along the way we hear from a cross-section of thinkers who have inspired them to help shape where it might go next.

The episode will be available via Channel, a curated online space for art, ideas and the artistic process, and via podcast apps: Apple / Spotify.

For more information please visit - https://www.somersethouse.org.uk/channel/podcasts/process

NOTES TO EDITORS

Dates:  17 Oct 2025– 4 Jan 2026
Tickets: Pay What You Can. Please visit here for more details.
Press enquiries: press@somersethouse.org.uk
Press Images: High-res images here
Website: www.somersethouse.org.uk
Somerset House Facebook: www.facebook.com/SomersetHouse
Somerset House Twitter & Instagram: @SomersetHouse

ABOUT JENNIE BAPTISTE

Born in London to parents who migrated from St. Lucia in the 1960s, Jennie Baptiste’s work is widely recognized and celebrated.

The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) hold a selection of her photographs in its collection, and her iconic portrait of Roots Manuva became the first image of a British Hip-hop artist to be included in The National Portrait Gallery’s Photographic Archive

In recent years, Baptiste’s work has been featured in significant exhibitions, including The Missing Thread at Somerset House, Fashioning Masculinities at the V&A, and Black on the Square, a major event hosted by the Mayor of London.

ABOUT SOMERSET HOUSE

Step Inside, Think Outside

As the home of cultural innovators, Somerset House is a site of origination, with a cultural programme offering alternative perspectives on the biggest issues of our time. In 2025, Somerset House celebrates its 25th birthday, marking its extraordinary transformation to one of London’s best-loved cultural spaces and home to one of the largest creative communities in the UK. We are a place of joy and discovery, where everyone is invited to Step Inside and Think Outside

From our historic site in the heart of London, we work globally across art, creativity, business, and non-profit, nurturing new talent, methods and technologies. Our resident community of creative enterprises, arts organisations, artists and makers makes us a centre of ideas, with most of our programme home-grown.

We sit at the meeting point of artistic and social innovation, bringing worlds and minds together to create surprising and often magical results. Our spirit of constant curiosity and counter perspective is integral to our history and key to our future. Drawing from Somerset House’s unique resident community, the digital platform will showcase a rolling programme of exclusive commissions, documentaries, films, podcasts, talks, interactive works and editorial content