Introduction

Rianna Jade Parker is a critic, curator and researcher based in South London where she studied her MA in Contemporary Art Theory at Goldsmiths College, University of London.She is a founding member of interdisciplinary collective Thick/er Black Lines, whose work was exhibited in the landmark exhibition Get Up, Stand Up Now: Generations of Black Creative Pioneers at Somerset House, London. She is a Contributing Editor of Frieze magazine and co-curated War Inna Babylon: The Community’s Struggle for Truths and Rights at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London.

Her first book ‘A Brief History of Black British Art’ was published by Tate in 2021 and she is represented by The Wiley Agency.


Additionally, she has curated numerous artist projects and creative commissions for Tate Modern, Transmission Gallery, Prada Mode London, Reference.Point, and the 10th Berlin Biennale. Rianna has presented work at the South London Gallery, Tate Britain, Southbank Centre, Senate House Library, Iniva, Autograph ABP, Somerset House, and the Royal College of Art.

Her writing has been published in print and online by ARTnews, Frieze Magazine, Art in America, Artforum, Harpers Bazaar, Artnet, Phaidon Press, Thames and Hudson, Tate Liverpool, Frieze Masters, Camden Art Centre, Stephen Friedman Gallery, Hayward Gallery, Aperture, The Guardian, and BOMB Magazine.

Press, mentions and citations appear in Hyperallergic, Artforum, Evening Standard, The Financial Times, VICE, Momus, AQNB, Dazed and Confused, and The White Pube.

A real nigga in a cold world, no blanket.