Leica Gallery London will host Holly-Marie Cato’s debut solo exhibition throughout Black History Month 2022. Her new exhibition, Heavy is the Mantle, will be accompanied by a series of thought-provoking talks. Cato says these will ‘celebrate Black pioneering photographers who have pushed the visual narrative. Photographers who have not been celebrated enough from the legendary Charlie Philips to Leica grant recipient Renee Maria Osubu’.

Cato’s photography often captures the ways people occupy various urban spaces. In Heavy is the Mantle, she focuses her lens on former presiding Bishop of City Mission Church, Herbert Cato, and the religious site in which he worked. Her exhibition explores the spiritual mantles church leaders assume in their communities, represented by the tangible ones they wear, and the important role of Christianity within the Caribbean community in particular.

The mantle worn by former presiding Bishop of City Mission Church, Herbert Cato

Former Bishop of City Mission Church Herbert Cato stood behind the lectern where he gave sermons

The series of talks, meanwhile, will be hosted by leading Black photographers and will champion new voices. Photographer and videographer Renee Maria Osubu will present and discuss her award-winning film, Dear Philadelphia; Henry J. Kamara will discuss his project, Keep the Drums Loose the Knife, which documents survivors of female genital mutilation from Sierra Leone; Charlie Philips and Eddie Otchere will talk about the historical contexts in which they have documented their own communities and the intergenerational story of the Black diaspora; and Simon Fredrick will present his ground-breaking photography and documentary film work, which includes Netflix’s They’ve Gotta Have Us.

Herbert Cato

Additionally, there will be a competition, supported by Leica and WeTransfer, whereby people can apply to win one of 15 in-person photography portfolio reviews with Cato and four prominent jurors in the industry. One applicant will win a £6000 grant and two runners up will receive £2000 to support their endeavours in photography.

The exhibition will take place from 1 October to 1 November at Leica Gallery London, 64-66 Duke Street, W1K 6JD. For more information about the talks, portfolio reviews and grants, visit leica-camera.com