An artist for the National Portrait Gallery has recognised two Hackney women for their contribution to the community as part of a new project.
Panama-based artist, Giana de Dier, 45, was invited alongside nine contemporary artists to create work in dialogue with the permanent collection for the gallery’s latest programme of contemporary commissioning, Artists First: Contemporary Perspectives on Portraiture.
De Dier’s collection of small photomontage portraits were unveiled in the National Portrait Gallery on 6 September, featuring Chief Executive of Hackney Council Dawn Carter-McDonald and Hackney community activist Rena Kydd-Williams.
De Dier said: “The intention was to meet people and to learn about what they were doing, their contributions to British society and find ways to celebrate them, highlight them, and feature them in this project.”
When looking for these ‘contemporary changemakers’ from Britain’s African and Caribbean diaspora, Hackney Council and fellow campaigners recommended Carter-McDonald and Kydd-Williams for their community work.
De Dier was fascinated by the way the women were being celebrated by their peers, initially assuming people would nominate themselves.
She said: “There was a lot of energy of collaboration, community, and selfless work.”
Carter-McDonald was a child of the Windrush generation and Hackney Council appointed her as chief executive in May last year, making her the first Black woman to take the position.
“I thought it was interesting that Dawn hasn’t been in the position that long,” de Dier said, “so it felt like maybe a lot of people didn’t know who she is.”
She added: “It was perfect for her to be a part of the project.”
Kydd-Williams’ was the only group portrait in de Dier’s collection, as the activist was adamant her colleagues should be included.
Kydd-Williams told Love Hackney: “I couldn’t have done what I did alone.”
De Dier’s work usually centres on the experiences of Afro-Caribbean migrants, but she wanted to bring a British focus by looking at migration from the Caribbean to London.
Reflecting on the launch event, de Dier said: “Seeing the reactions of how happy they were and so proud of each other and supportive of each other, I wish I could just bottle that up and keep it with me.”
Carter-McDonald and Kydd-Williams’ portraits can be found in room 22 of the National Portrait Gallery until 3 August 2026.
Photo by Amy-Leigh Barnard on Unsplash
Join the discussion