International Artist

Kevin is an international artist and he creates powerful artwork informed by his pedagogic practice. Kevin is on the Board of Directors and Trustees and proudly serves Manchester's long-standing institution.

Thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Manchester's Portico Library has received a transformative boost of nearly half a million pounds. This funding is a catalyst for the £7m redevelopment of the 218-year-old building, and it marks a new chapter in the Portico's rich history.

The Board of Trustees, in partnership with experts and the community, will trial plans for the project, which will transform the Portico into a creative space. The project will see all three floors brought together for the first time in over 100 years, making it an exciting and innovative place for everyone to enjoy.

Kevin is a Black professional artist, teacher and academic driven by an incredible passion for self-expression and decolonisation through art. His many artworks are often noted for their unique powerful style and technique. He has developed an innovative style that blends his experiences as a Windrush first generation British-Jamaican with his pedagogic practice and doctoral research. Through the conflation of crafted practices, seeks to decolonise, emancipate and celebrate Blackness to promote equality and openness.   Kevin's sculptures, paintings and installations have been featured in galleries and museums across the international stage and they appear in numerous private collections. 

Kevin has used his sound pedagogic practice to explore the Afro-Caribbean education experience, a topic of significant concern, has seen little change since the publication of Bernard Coard’s seminal work, How the West Indian Child Is Made Educationally Subnormal (1971). This work, which remains relevant today, sheds light on the persistent issues of black underachievement and exclusions. Despite policy changes and evolving terminology, Black professionals and students are still grappling with a pedagogy that perpetuates white supremacy. 

 Through research at Manchester Metropolitan University, Kevin aims to discover how Afro-Caribbean teachers, who face unique challenges, cope with the profession's demands to emancipate Black professionals on the frontline of education by highlighting their exceptional contribution to education.   

NSEAD is dedicated to supporting art, craft, and design educators. We protect your interests as a specialist trade union and subject association, combining our unique expertise in these areas.

We inspire education in art, craft, and design by promoting best practices, creating helpful learning materials, and generating meaningful research and discussion.

We support our profession through a strong community and by working with different partners and organizations to achieve shared goals. We also lead national conversations by presenting solid evidence and advocating for it with opinion leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders. 

Additionally, we are actively involved in the global community, participating in international platforms through our iJADE publication and conference, and by partnering with the International Society for Education Through Art (InSEA).

Kevin is a founding member of the United Black Art Educators (UBAE), a group dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of Black Art Educators while celebrating their cultures. UBAE promotes an understanding of racism in education, advocating for equity, respect, and love, in line with the spirit of Ubuntu. The group challenges Eurocentric perspectives on art and pedagogy by amplifying Black voices, aiming to connect and empower diverse educators and inspire future generations.

Kevin, Dr Sylvia Theuri, Rayvenn D'Clark (an international artist), and Marlene Wylie successfully launched the highly anticipated VISUALISE report today in our APPG for Art, Craft, and Design in Education. The report reveals a startling statistic: only 2.3% of the artists referenced in GCSE Art exam papers come from Black or South Asian backgrounds. Compiled by the Runnymede Trust and the Freelands Foundation, this extensive 119-page report highlights the significant underrepresentation of minority ethnic artists in school curricula. It is rich with both qualitative and quantitative data, making it an essential read for educators, policymakers, and researchers who are committed to driving change and promoting diversity.

Systemic racism has long been a significant barrier for many individuals. However, it is important to recognize that change is possible, even within the education system. In this inspiring masterclass, Kevin Dalton-Johnson shares his personal experiences as a student, teacher, and leader within the British education system, highlighting the negative impact of systemic racism. As an international artist, educator, and academic leader, Kevin uses his art to provide a perspective on the oppressed that is often overlooked in academia. The insights he offers in this masterclass are truly eye-opening and empowering.