Kennedy Drake is a Bradford-born artist, who studied Visual Arts at Bradford School of Art and has recently completed a Master’s in Fine Art at Sheffield Hallam University. Her work is focused on inequalities and the working-class experience within the UK setting. Using paint, print and the process of upcycling everyday textiles, her work presents a cutting critique on modern British society, including the cost-of-living crisis which is engulfing society and pushing the poorest further into financial difficulty.
Kennedy Drake’s banner titled A Land of Austerity, With Hope for Prosperity was created to mark the history of working-class stories of pride, unity, and strength. The oil painted scene on the banner was inspired by one of Walter Crane’s works, A Garland for May Day where Crane illustrated the power of nature and working-class lives living in unity. The choice of depicting the scene of Bradford city centre on a trade union banner was to honour the rich history of the district. This has further developed an exploration of textural political banners within Kennedy’s practice, a place to reflect her own lived experiences, the experiences of others and the research of her practice, by utilising Art Nouveau, the art style of great interest to Drake, and works of Walter Crane, William Morris, and George Tutill.
