Joy Gregory, renowned British photographer and artist, awarded Honorary Professorship

Gregory, a graduate of Manchester Polytechnic and the Royal College of Art, has developed a practice focused on social and political issues, particularly exploring history and cultural differences in contemporary society. Her work challenges conventional notions of beauty and its language in relation to race and gender.

Associated with the Black British photography movement, Gregory collaborates closely with Autograph, the Association of Black Photographers. Born in the UK to Jamaican parents, she is deeply intrigued by the impact of European history and colonisation on global perceptions of identity, memory, and folklore. Her photography spans various media, including video, digital and analogue photography, and Victorian print processes.

For nearly three decades, Gregory has been involved in art education, serving as an Honorary Research Associate at the Slade School of Art and a Visiting Scholar at the Yale Centre for British Art. She has received numerous accolades, including an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Photographic Society. Most recently, Gregory, alongside Whitechapel Gallery, won the Freelands Award 2023, with a major solo show set to open in Autumn 2025.

Professor Simon Ofield-Kerr, Vice-Chancellor of Norwich University of the Arts, praised Gregory’s work, stating, “This honorary professorship underscores Joy Gregory’s enduring influence on photography and fine art. Her profound exploration of social and political themes through her art has significantly impacted both the artistic and academic communities. Her innovative approach and commitment to addressing cultural and historical narratives continue to inspire us all.”

Expressing her gratitude, Gregory remarked, “An art education is special and precious to individuals and society. Almost everything we see, touch, feel, or desire has a direct line to a creative practice.

“I started working in art education in 1986, not long after graduating myself. At Staffordshire Polytechnic, I initially taught photography before moving across all nine design fields and into fine art. Alongside this, I ran workshops and organised educational programs in community settings. I observed and understood very quickly that ideas and solutions are not bound by subject or material. That is the gift of an art education.

“It is an education that enables you to think outside of the box and to see beyond the everyday. An art education is the key to the kingdom because it is a way of being that enables its graduates to do anything and everything. Equipped with the tools to create paths for all of our futures, they will always be leaders.

“It is puzzling that art and almost any kind of creative practice has been stripped from the schools’ curriculum, while at the same time talking up the importance of greater innovation. It is like turning off the tap when you are desperate for water.”

Norwich University of the Arts awarded four honorary professorships during this year’s summer graduations, where nearly 900 undergraduate and postgraduate students received their honours.