Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots
A landmark exhibition celebrating Jennie Baptiste, a defining voice in British photography.
This autumn, Somerset House presents Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots from 17 October to 4 January 2026— the first major solo exhibition from pioneering Black British photographer Jennie Baptiste.
Spanning three decades of photography, the exhibition showcases iconic and previously unseen portraits from Baptiste’s archive, celebrating the rich cultural influence of Black British communities across music, fashion, and youth identity. From the flamboyant energy of London’s dancehall scene to the rise of hip hop and R&B, Baptiste’s lens offers a vital visual record of a generation in motion.
Visitors will encounter defining images of figures including Roots Manuva, Estelle, Ms Dynamite and NAS, as well as street portraits of everyday icons from 1990s Brixton and beyond. A highlight includes the return of Revolutions @33 1/3 rpm — Baptiste’s seminal documentation of London’s hip hop DJ scene, exhibited here for the first time since 1999, complete with original mixes from the DJs she photographed. The exhibition also features Black Chains of Icon, a powerful conceptual series exploring themes of Black identity, resilience, and legacy through layered materials, historic quotes, and experimental printing techniques.
Immersive and celebratory, Rhythm & Roots affirms Baptiste’s rightful place in the canon of British photography. Presented with a soundtrack of DJ-curated mixes, a public programme of talks, and creative responses from the community, this exhibition honours the sound, style, and stories that shaped a cultural movement — and continue to shape it today.
For one night only on 13 November join Somerset House as Upgrade Yourself takes over Jennie Baptiste: Rhythm & Roots. A free evening of talks, workshops and networking is designed to support aspiring creatives aged 18–30 years old to build connections, learn new skills and gain industry insights.
The FREE ticket give access to:
- An in-conversation between artist Jennie Baptiste and cultural strategist Lisa Anderson
- A hands-on DJ workshop with pioneering turntablist DJ Pogo
- A zine and flyer-making workshop led by Sweet-Thang founder Zoë Thompson
- A set from UK hip-hop trailblazer DJ 279 (The Number Man)
Venue details
- Address:
- Somerset House
- Strand
- London
- WC2R 1LA