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This portrait series depicts many of the prominent figures from the UK disability arts movement. The pieces are consciously focused on the face, perhaps with exaggerated colours and facial features to centre on the subject’s character and attitude.

About Tanya Raabe-Webber

The Tanya series of portraits loom large in DAM IN VENICE, with an entire wall showing paintings of hers of the activist leaders of the disability arts and rights movements in her Who’s Who and other series, which features in the exhibition.

The work magnificently conveys the power and pride of the disabled activist leaders of the Disability Arts Movement in a series of some 20 portraits. Through her deceptively simple expressionist style, she champions the visibility of disabled activists, while also aiming to convey through form and structure their more earthly, lived experiences.  

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Image credits, Andy Barker

Image descriptions:
Banner image. A large wall in an exhibition has a pasted black and white image completely covering it. Arranged in smaller groups and pairings across the wall are 14 paintings of disabled activists. Set on blocky and colourful backgrounds, each canvas depicts a disabled activist using bright and vivid colours. Brush strokes are bold and defined. Most of the portraits are of their faces, with some showing more of their torso.

1. This painting in landscape format is of disability activist Michèle Taylor with short curly dark hair and black rectangular glasses sat posing naked with her right leg curved around her, hiding more intimate parts of her body. Her left arm is resting on something in the deep dark background so that she can rest her head in her hand. There is a stark contrast between the empty black background of the painting and the bright skin of Michèle. Arranged on the floor around her to the right is a small red and white air freshener and a zebra print jacket tucked away in the corner.

2. Painted in portrait format, disability activist Simone Aspis, with short brown hair and thin framed glasses sits in front of a vivid orange background. She is reading some newspapers stacked up next to her. Simone is wearing a checked shirt over a bright red top and blue trousers. She's smiling as she's reading the newspaper.

3. This portrait painting in bright reds, blues, browns and greens is of disabled artist Deborah Williams, a black woman with her hair tied back and small rectangular glasses. She is sat facing the viewer wearing a bright blue t-shirt that in red letters read: 'The New Actors Workshop'. Both arms are slightly raised in front of her, revealing the woman to have only her right hand, which she holds open showing her palm.

4. Painted on a vivid blue background is a portrait of Baroness Jane Campbell OBE. The top edges of her black wheelchair are visible, before the painting stops just below her knees. With blonde hair cut into a short bob and wearing a purple cardigan and white shirt, the woman has her hands poised as if in the middle of describing something.