This exhibition explores – in reverse chronological order – three principal waves of migration to Britain, illustrating the history, width and breadth of the institution and its collection with representative works by artists.
Ben Uri Gallery and Museum is delighted to present Art, Identity, Migration, a display of highlights from the permanent collection featuring paintings, drawings, collage, and sculpture by 32 artists of Jewish and/or immigrant origin from across the past century.

Artists featured in this Curation: Alfred Aaron Wolmark (1877–1961), Mark Gertler (1891–1939), Clare Winsten (1892–1989), David Bomberg (1890–1957), Isaac Rosenberg (1890–1918), George Grosz (1893–1959), Emmanuel Levy (1900–1986), Marc Chagall (1887–1985), Jankel Adler (1895–1949), Josef Herman (1911–2000), and 20 more
32 artworks
Storyline Album Showcase
The Last Days of Rabbi Ben Ezra
© Estate of Alfred Aaron Wolmark. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

The Last Days of Rabbi Ben Ezra 1905

Alfred Aaron Wolmark (1877–1961)

Oil on canvas

H 185.5 x W 318 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Rabbi and Rabbitzin
Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Rabbi and Rabbitzin 1914

Mark Gertler (1891–1939)

Watercolour & pencil on paper

H 48.8 x W 37.6 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Untitled (Vorticist Figures)*
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Untitled (Vorticist Figures)* c.1911

Clare Winsten (1892–1989)

Oil on canvas

H 45.8 x W 81.4 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Racehorses
© the estate of David Bomberg. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Racehorses 1913

David Bomberg (1890–1957)

Black chalk & wash on paper

H 41.5 x W 66.2 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Self Portrait in Steel Helmet
Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Self Portrait in Steel Helmet 1916

Isaac Rosenberg (1890–1918)

Black chalk, gouache & wash on paper

H 22.4 x W 19.6 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Ghetto Theatre
© the estate of David Bomberg. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Ghetto Theatre 1920

David Bomberg (1890–1957)

Oil on canvas

H 74.5 x W 62 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Interrogation
© DACS 2024. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Interrogation 1938

George Grosz (1893–1959)

Watercolour & ink on paper

H 46 x W 59 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Crucifixion
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Crucifixion 1942

Emmanuel Levy (1900–1986)

Oil on canvas

H 102 x W 78 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Apocalypse en Lilas, Capriccio
© ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2024. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Apocalypse en Lilas, Capriccio 1945

Marc Chagall (1887–1985)

Gouache, pencil, Indian wash & ink on paper

H 51 x W 35.5 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Mother and Child
Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Mother and Child 1941

Jankel Adler (1895–1949)

Oil on canvas

H 78.1 x W 57.1 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Refugees
© estate of Josef Herman. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Refugees c.1941

Josef Herman (1911–2000)

Gouache on paper

H 47 x W 39.5 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Refugees
© trustees of the estate of Orovida Pissarro. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Refugees 1947

Orovida Camille Pissarro (1893–1968)

Oil on canvas

H 76 x W 63 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Jeune servante (Waiting Maid)
Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Jeune servante (Waiting Maid) c.1933

Chaïm Soutine (1893–1943)

Oil on canvas

H 46.5 x W 40.5 cm

Ben Uri Collection

West Indian Waitresses
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

West Indian Waitresses c.1955

Eva Frankfurther (1930–1959)

Oil on paper

H 76 x W 55 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Head
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Head c.1928–1934

Elisabeth Tomalin (1912–2012)

Gouache on paper

H 51 x W 36.1 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Orovida Pissarro
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Orovida Pissarro 1962

Clara Klinghoffer (1900–1970)

Oil on canvas

H 102 x W 86.8 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Circus Scene
© Marie-Louise von Motesiczky Charitable Trust. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Circus Scene 1964

Marie-Louise von Motesiczky (1906–1996)

Oil on canvas

H 53.6 x W 90.3 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Head of an African Woman
© Dorich House Museum, Kingston University. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Head of an African Woman 1920s

Dora Gordine (1895–1991)

Plaster

H 53 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Chungsen Chou
© The Estate of Elsa Fraenkel. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Chungsen Chou 1928

Elsa Fraenkel (1892–1975)

Bronze

H 36 x W 20.5 x D 55 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Für Frau Fränkel
Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Für Frau Fränkel 1927

Kurt Schwitters (1887–1948)

Collage on paper

H 13.5 x W 9.3 cm

Ben Uri Collection

The Dancer
© Courtesy of The Ben Enwonwu Foundation. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

The Dancer 1962

Ben Enwonwu (1917–1994)

Oil on canvas

H 93 x W 62 cm

Ben Uri Collection

King Lear
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

King Lear 1964

Lancelot Ribeiro (1933–2010)

Oil on canvas

H 99 x W 52.7 cm

Ben Uri Collection

The Hand Made Map of the World
© the artist. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

The Hand Made Map of the World 2013

Tam Joseph (b.1947)

Acrylic on board

H 70.7 x W 121.2 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Home Performance 1
© Güler Ates & Bridgeman images & L'étrangère. Image credit: courtesy of Ben Uri Collection

Home Performance 1 2014

Güler Ates (b.1977)

Giclée print

H 73 x W 105 cm

Ben Uri Collection

The Bands of Pride
© the artist. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

The Bands of Pride 2017

Hormazd Narielwalla (b.1979)

Collage on paper

H 66 x W 47 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Revolution Street 2
© the artist. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Revolution Street 2 2019

Zory Shahrokhi (active since c.2003)

Pen, ink & gold pen

H 49 x W 69 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Romilly John (1906–1986)
© The estate of Sir Jacob Epstein / Tate Images. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Romilly John (1906–1986) 1907

Jacob Epstein (1880–1959)

Bronze

H 20.3 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Jacob Kramer (1892–1962)
© The estate of Sir Jacob Epstein / Tate Images. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Jacob Kramer (1892–1962) 1921

Jacob Epstein (1880–1959)

Bronze

H 64 x W 49 x D 25 cm

Ben Uri Collection

N. M. Seedo (1906–1985)
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

N. M. Seedo (1906–1985) c.1957

Leon Kossoff (1926–2019)

Charcoal on paper

H 103 x W 71 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Mornington Crescent – Summer Morning II
© the artist. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Mornington Crescent – Summer Morning II 2004

Frank Helmuth Auerbach (b.1931)

Oil on board

H 51.1 x W 51.1 cm

Ben Uri Collection

White Trees and Yellow Fence
© the artist's estate / Bridgeman Images. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

White Trees and Yellow Fence 1980

Joash Woodrow (1927–2006)

Oil & household paint on board

H 217.5 x W 165 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Red Self Portrait after Masaccio
© the estate of R. B. Kitaj. Image credit: Ben Uri Collection

Red Self Portrait after Masaccio 2005

Ronald Brooks Kitaj (1932–2007)

Oil on canvas

H 61 x W 61 cm

Ben Uri Collection

Explore artists in this Curation

View all 30
  • King Lear
    Lancelot Ribeiro (1933–2010)
  • Merry-Go-Round
    Mark Gertler (1891–1939)
  • Torso in Metal from 'The Rock Drill'
    Jacob Epstein (1880–1959)
  • JYM1
    Frank Helmuth Auerbach (b.1931)
  • The Dancer
    Ben Enwonwu (1917–1994)
  • Suicide (Selbstmörder)
    George Grosz (1893–1959)
  • Untitled (YMCA Official Flag Thank You)
    Kurt Schwitters (1887–1948)
  • White Trees and Yellow Fence
    Joash Woodrow (1927–2006)
  • The Poet Reclining (Le Poète allongé)
    Marc Chagall (1887–1985)
  • Miners Singing
    Josef Herman (1911–2000)
  • View all 30
View all