Radical Care - Bobby Baker

Bobby Baker’s acclaimed intersectional feminist practice includes performance, drawing, and installation. It persistently exposes the undervalued and stigmatised aspects of women’s daily lives, exemplified by pioneering works such as Drawing on a Mother’s Experience (1988) and Kitchen Show (1991), which the Arts Council Collection recently acquired.

Current and forthcoming projects include the Hayward Touring exhibition Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood at Dundee Contemporary Arts (19 Apr–13 Jul 2025); An Edible Family in a Mobile Home (1976) remade in 2023 as part of Women in Revolt! Art and Activism in the UK 1970–1990 at Tate Britain, touring to the Whitworth, Manchester (7 Mar–20 Apr 2025).

Established by Baker in 1995, ‘Daily Life Ltd’ makes art that explores and celebrates everyday life and human behaviour. Their work is rooted in Baker’s vision and art practice, and collaborators include like-minded artists and organisations across the arts, health, and disability sectors. Their mission is to lead advocacy for change in the way people think about women and the undervalued aspects of daily life. This includes celebrating age and experience and tackling misogyny and injustice in the mental health system.

Radical Care is a programme of free public talks presented by Hereford College of Arts and Meadow Arts. It explores the question of care in the context of contemporary art and how artists are transforming their creative practices to foster well-being and connectedness.

As our world becomes increasingly precarious and complex, a sense of uncertainty and anxiety is becoming widespread, impacting general well-being both in the fabric of society and on an individual level. In this context, how might art help us reconnect, heal, and better understand one another?

The question of care has become a central concern for artists. This manifests both through the act of creating work—individually or collaboratively—and in response to a range of issues they are passionate about. These responses may take many forms: creating participatory social spaces, highlighting social neglect and marginalised communities, or addressing the undeniable need for collective care in confronting the environmental crisis. Different approaches to care through artistic practices also connect with a notable shift in the wider world of contemporary art, which increasingly understands art as a process and a relationship, rather than merely a product.

Whether you’re a practising artist, student, graduate, or simply curious about the power of art to inspire change, all are welcome to join these free public events to gain fresh insights and engage with bold ideas shaping the future of contemporary art.