A colourful celebration of heritage, resilience, and unity, the Windrush Generation Black History Month exhibition at several locations, including Westfield Stratford City, showcases over 100 artists whose works honour cultural pride, community, and the enduring legacy of Black British identity.
Honouring the spirit of the Windrush Generation through art, culture, and collective pride. The theme of the Windrush Generation exhibition is “Standing Firm in Power and Pride”
Featuring works from emerging artists of primarily Black African and Caribbean heritage, alongside artists from Asian, Far Eastern, and European backgrounds, the Windrush Generation exhibition provides a platform by showcasing the diversity and creativity of the featured artists, while embodying the shared values of culture and community at the heart of WGLA.
Where heritage meets hope: A creative testament to community, identity and belonging
Standout artworks in the exhibition include Jada Bruney’s boldly illustrative artwork Learn from the Past for a Better Future, Libby Harewood’s atmospheric painting of a woman selling fresh fruit and vegetables on a market stall, and Lawyartist’s PAMI (2025). These works of art resonate with the theme of Standing Firm in Power and Pride, capturing lived experiences and community values.
Young Nigerian Pop Artist, Adetunji Onigbanjo (Lawyartist), is currently exhibiting his work at Westfield Stratford City, a Black History Month exhibition put together by The Windrush Generation Legacy Association (WGLA). WGLA celebrates the contributions of the Windrush Generation and ensures their legacy remains an inspiration for young people through arts, culture, and community initiatives, such as the Windrush Generation exhibition.
Lawyartist’s PAMI is an example of how art has the power to embody identity, pride in heritage and the spirit of the Windrush Generation who demonstrated such bold resilience, even in the face of adversity. In this piece, an overwhelming sense of cultural pride is combined with references to popular culture and an understanding of art history. Lawyartist is one of seven artists with a connection to Stratford whose work is being featured on digital screens, complemented by four double-sided lightboxes at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City.
Lawyartist uses a palette of green, red, yellow, and white for PAMI, with bold black lines and a graphic style that depicts symbols referencing black culture, Nigerian heritage, and Cartoons.
PAMI is an abbreviation of palm wine, a traditional African drink often imbibed at parties or celebratory events, which forms the artwork’s focal point. PAMI is both a pictorial representation of celebration and a metaphor for unity among Black British people, which can be fostered through community and celebration. Other motifs that Lawyartist includes in the painting to reference festivities in African communities include a woman wearing a traditional headtie and pearl necklace, music blasting out of a stereo, a talking drum, and money, which is thrown into the air at times of jubilation.
A green beatbox evokes 90’s New York Hip Hop — a musical genre with roots that united African Americans before going global, and a military man wearing green references Nigerian soldiers and their toughness. Green and White jump out of the canvas, referencing the Nigerian flag, which features two green stripes representing Nigeria’s natural wealth, and a white band representing peace. Adetunji also incorporates elements referencing spirituality, such as a traditional Nigerian seed bracelet, rich in spiritual symbolism derived from Yoruba, Hausa, and Igbo traditions. At the centre of the image, two hands meet, their fingers clasping around an orange cup, serving as a powerful symbol of peace, reconciliation, and hope for future generations. One arm is clad in corporate attire, while the other is adorned with traditional beads and bracelets, signifying that people from different backgrounds can find common ground and coexist peacefully.
While Lawyartist’s style is distinctly his own, there is an art historical lineage from his bold black lines to the doodle-like work of Keith Haring. The white lines bursting out of the boombox and drum in his painting recall Lichtenstein’s comic book style, as seen in Whaam! There are also references to iconic cartoon characters in his work, with an outstretched Mickey Mouse arm, for example, noticeable in PAMI.
From struggle to strength: Art as a bridge between past, present and future generations
Lawyartist’s oeuvre is bold and full of subtle historical and pop culture motifs, as well as spiritual symbols. Yet, he steers away from outdated stereotypes of Nigerian art being embedded with historical trauma, instead choosing to confront social issues positively through his joyful art. His art comes from a place of positivity and pride, offering a contemporary lens on everyday life, combined with an excellent aptitude for cartoon-like graphic art.
The WGLA Windrush Generation Exhibition runs until the start of November 2025, and is a collaboration with Westfield London, Westfield Stratford City and Centrale & Whitgift. Let’s hope that the exhibition’s theme,’ Standing Firm in Power and Pride,’ and the central message of Black History Month —the importance of learning from past mistakes, educating, and spreading a message of acceptance, reflection, equality, and tolerance for all cultures —extend far beyond October.
For more information on The Windrush Generation exhibition at Westfield Stratford City, visit
For more information about Lawyartists, visit