Lubaina Himid has unveiled 'Reading the Label', the 2026 edition of the Cork Street Galleries Banners Commission, transforming London's historic Cork Street into a public installation of painted male figures on banners. The works, drawn from Himid's paintings over the past twelve years, explore how clothing communicates identity, memory, and cultural meaning. The installation coincides with London Gallery Weekend 2026 and is commissioned by Cork Street Galleries, an initiative of The Pollen Estate.
This commission matters because it arrives during a landmark year for Himid, who is also representing Great Britain at the 61st Venice Biennale with a major solo exhibition at the British Pavilion. Cork Street Galleries is supporting her Venice presentation as a Supporting Partner of the British Council, marking the first time an arts destination has backed the British Pavilion. The installation deepens Himid's decades-long examination of race, history, and overlooked Black narratives, while linking Cork Street's tailoring heritage with contemporary art.