The Art of Stephen Shames: A Mini-Treasure Exhibition at Amar Gallery, London

Staff Writer 07/01/2025

1971 - Oakland, California, USA: Black Panther founders Bobby Seale and Huey Newton stand in feront of National Headquarters. Left at fence: Marion Hilliard. (Stephen Shames/Polaris)The Black Panther Party was one of the most influential responses to racism and inequality in American history. The Panthers advocated armed self-defense to counter police brutality, and initiated a program of patrolling the police with guns and law books. Their enduring legacy is their programs, like Free Breakfast for Children, which helped to inspire a national movement of community organizing for economic independence, education, nutrition, and health care. Seale believed that “no kid should be running around hungry in school,” a simple credo that lead FBI director J. Edgar Hoover to call the breakfast program, “the greatest threat to efforts by authorities to neutralize the BPP and destroy what it stands for.”

1971 – Oakland, California, USA: Black Panther founders Bobby Seale and Huey Newton stand in front of National Headquarters. Left at the fence: Marion Hilliard. Copyright Stephen Shames, courtesy of Amar Gallery.

At a time when freedom of expression is once again under scrutiny across the globe, this exhibition reminds us of the essential role that art, activism, and historical memory play in safeguarding democratic ideals. The world of the Black Panthers, as documented through the lens of Stephen Shames, presents a powerful selection of works that illuminate the intersection of political resistance and visual storytelling.

1972 – San Jose, California, USA: Angela Davis smokes a cigarette as she relaxes in the backyard of a supporter’s house during her trial. Copyright Stephen Shames, courtesy of Amar Gallery.

Stephen Shames, a key visual chronicler of the Black Panther Party, offers an unfiltered lens into one of the most radical and misunderstood movements of the 20th century. His photographs do not merely document what they activate. They speak of courage, community, defiance, and the urgent demand for justice. Through his eyes, we see the Panthers not only as revolutionaries but as educators, caretakers, and visionaries.

This mini treasure of an exhibition is more than a historical reflection; it is a dialogue between past and present. It explores how the legacy of the Black Panther Party continues to resonate today, in movements demanding racial equity, police reform, and free speech. It also calls attention to how visual media, through photography, can shape public consciousness and inspire change.

1972 – Oakland, California, USA: Girl holds a Free Angela poster at the Black Panther Party’s Constitutional Convention rally in Defremery Park. Copyright Stephen Shames, courtesy of Amar Gallery.

Hosted by Amar Gallery in London, the show invites audiences to engage with the enduring relevance of political and cultural resistance. The exhibition is a reminder that the ideas and ideals born decades ago remain vital: justice, solidarity, and above all, the right to speak out.

Now, more than ever, we need to remember what was fought for and what still needs defending.