WELCOME TO THE PORTOBELLO STORIES PROJECT: A free exhibition of films and photography at the African Caribbean Cultural Centre September 23-29 2025
A new gaze on Portobello as seen through the eyes of the local community
ABOUT THE EVENT
During Summer 2025 we brought together a creative team and recruited North Kensington residents to develop a body of film and photographic work.
The brief was to develop a personal narrative which included Portobello Road and its market traders.
The resulting work is a celebration of our diverse culture and environment which embraces us all. This is the gallery of the work.
ONLINE GALLERY
ABOUT THE PORTOBELLO STORIES CONTRIBUTORS:
All the work you see here is created by North Kensington residents who are seeking to develop their creative skills in photography and film. They worked with professional photographers and filmmakers to develop their work from basic concepts into what you see today.
We invited unemployed 18-25 year olds to participate along with women because both are groups which are underrepresented in the photographic and film sectors in the UK.While we cannot change the creative industries overnight we think every action makes a difference. Many of the participants are keen to pursue creative careers and we hope this helps them on their way.
PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY
Here are the photographs of the market traders taken by participants with details of the artist and the story they are telling.
PORTOBELLO CAMERAS BY LINK MCLAUGHLIN
For my market stall holder photos. I chose Portobello Cameras. A stall which sells a selection of vintage digital and film cameras. Me and the stall owner got on really well and I loved his array of cameras. He told me if I quit smoking, he’d give me a camera for free. I haven’t quit smoking yet but I’m very tempted to take him up on his offer.
MOÚM CANDLES BY JASPER GRINLING
Tanu is the CEO and Maker of Moúm Candles. Her candles are made from natural colours, high quality fragrance, 100% natural soy wax and have unbleached cotton wicks meaning they are 100% vegan, environmentally friendly and sustainable. Tanu makes candles in many shapes and beautiful colours. Her most recent range made in shells, means they can be re-used afterwards for trinkets. Tanu told us her candles don’t even need to be lit to fill a room with fragrance and she loves meeting all the customers in Portobello Market – especially the locals and tourists. She’s full of infectious enthusiasm and joy about her product and the people who buy it… Seeing her wonderful candles it’s easy to see why!
CARL BY ERICA CALOGERO
Carl has been selling antiques and bric-a-brac in Portobello for 15 years. He enjoys meeting the different people who come and shop with him and the community atmosphere of the market. He first got into buying and selling antiques through his former partner, who worked as a restoration specialist at the V&A. He learned from her how to spot and classify antiques into various eras and styles. Then he started buying from everywhere he could. Once his collection got too large to fit at home, his current partner convinced him to open a stall at the market, and he has been selling here ever since.
BY MALA PERFUME BY RUA CROZIER
Founded by Mala and a permanent presence on the iconic Portobello Road Market, By Mala Perfume is a unique and independent, artisan fragrance brand. Mala creates pure perfume oils that are hand blended, alcohol-free, cruelty-free and vegan. Each scent is crafted for long-lasting wear, designed to evolve throughout the day. Mala began blending scents in search of something lasting and different and has gone on to develop an entire range of over 40 homemade fragrances. As I photographed Mala and her husband on their stall, they spoke excitedly about their fragrances and all that goes into crafting them. They smile and laugh with their customers with such warmth as the crowds of Portobello explore their bespoke collection.
ANNA OLIVEIRA BY SANDRINE LAURE
Anna Oliveira is a contemporary artist from Brazil who has been in the UK for five years. She works as both a painter and a sculptor, often creating unique pieces by painting on clothing, especially rock’n’roll jackets. Her husband, Raul Andres, accompanies her at the stall. I chose to photograph Anna’s stall for its colour and energy. As a fanof British pop culture, music, and art, especially David Bowie, I felt an immediate connection to her designs. One jacket, painted with hearts, stood out, symbolising both love and freedom. What impressed me most was how her work captured the universal power of culture to unite people from different backgrounds, perfectly reflecting the spirit of Portobello Road.
SPIRIT OF THE GROVE BY SALLY J NKRUMAH, aka SALLII MACHIAVELLIII
Following a journey through the ages of My Cultural & Creative path over almost 50 years, as a Resident, Student & Entrepreneur experiencing the impact and changes of Grove. Photo 1: From “Goldfingers, Trellick”…Towering over me/us. Photos 2 & 3: To the Demonisation of Our Roots, “Our Cuisine & Foods, as Our Strength”. Photo 4: To becoming the true “Spirits of The Golborne & The Grove” capturing “Our Joy & Our Smiles,” in Gratitude & Grace. Photo 5: From the musical “Grooves in Our Moves” whilst living the HipHop Culture.
TRELLICK MIRRORS GRENFELL BY ZAKIA CHOWDHURY
The photographs I took capture the Trellick Tower’s bold concrete architecture built in 1972, 31 storeys designed by Erno Goldfinger. In contrast, Grenfell Tower stands cloaked with white covering, a haunting reminder of loss and the persistence of unanswered questions. Views from Trellick frame Grenfell in the distance binding the two landmarks to a shared space and emotional memory. Looking outward, the Portobello area covers vibrant contrast and continues the journey of life amid the history of this urban landscape.
PORTOBELLO ROAD BOOKS BY EVA SYLVESTER
“Books are a dreamscape and they’re all here… All the best are here”. Established 30 years ago, the Portobello bookstore specialising in antiquarian books has become a pillar of the market. Bursting with wisdom and tales, Magdalene and her family live and breathe the spirit of Portobello Road. Stop by and you may find more than you were looking for…
FILM GALLERY
Here are the films made by participants with details of the makers and content captioned below each film.
By Erica Calogero, Cecilia Corzo and Sandrine Laure
In 1965, American civil rights activist Malcolm X attended a meeting at All Saints Church, to discuss racism and police brutality in Notting Hill and Ladbroke Grove. It was part of a UK tour where he was invited to a debate at the Oxford Union. The title: “Extremism in Pursuit of Justice is Not Extremism”. An excerpt of his speech, broadcast by the BBC, is included in the film. In 2025, social justice is still important to the area – what does Portobello Market tell us about the situation? Thanks to Frank Akinsete for appearing in this film.
A culturally inspired film of the spirit of the grove and Golborne featuring local Gs and heroes and contributors to the community.
A culturally inspired film of the spirit of the grove and Golborne featuring local Gs and heroes and contributors to the community.
Disclaimer: These films and photography were created and produced by participants in the Portobello Stories programme and as such they own the copyright to materials and Creativism CIC acknowledged in the credits. The opinions and views expressed in the Portobello Stories films belong solely to the individuals creating and appearing in them and do not necessarily represent the opinions and views of the Creativism CIC.