Gallery Exhibition: Shirley Baker Street Photography

Saturday 1 to Sunday 30 March 2025

We are delighted to present an iconic selection of photographs by Shirley Baker (1932 – 2014).

Shirley Baker was one of Britain’s most compelling yet underappreciated social documentary photographers. Her street photography of the working-class inner city areas of Salford and Manchester, taken from 1960 until 2000, would come to define her humanist vision. Her curiosity and engagement with the everyday world around her resulted in many different strands of work, many of which are yet to be exhibited. Each strand and each image confirms her acute observation and visual humour as well as compassion for the lives of ordinary people.

This special exhibition is a must-see for anyone interested in photography and social history. It shows here in Stroud thanks to the generosity and support of Nan Levy, Shirley’s daughter, and Fred Chance of PhotoStroud. Accompanying events include talks and workshops organised in collaboration with Hundred Heroines, a unique contemporary museum and gallery dedicated to women in photography. These events also celebrate Women’s History Month, re-examining the often forgotten history of female photographers and women as change makers.

Look out for photographs created by young people from local schools, in response to the exhibition and the theme of ‘Nostalgia & Anemoia’, following a callout by Hundred Heroines. A new book, ‘Mother’s Day’, published by Yew Tree Press, includes recent photographs by mums from the Rosary School, a project in response to some of the themes found in Shirley’s work.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a slideshow of images made by Stroud based photographer Barbara Manzi-fe. Barbara made her street photographs in 1967/68 in Bethnal Green and Basildon during a process of slum clearance and resettlement affecting families in London’s East End. Her photographs were inspired by the book ‘Family and Kinship In East London’ written by Michael Young and Peter Willmott as a result research examining the adverse affect of the loss of community at that time. They are sensitive additions to that famous research and tell a compelling social documentary story as well as adding to the history of British Street Photography. Slideshow times will vary - please ask at reception or call 01453 763394.

Accompanying Events (booking required):

Exhibition curated by Fred Chance who in past years has brought a series of world-class photography exhibitions to Stroud under the ‘PhotoStroud’ banner.

Photographs kindly on loan from the Estate of Shirley Baker, with many thanks to Nan Levy, daughter of Shirley Baker.

Admission free, donations welcome, books and postcards available to buy from the Museum Shop.

Image copyright the Estate of Shirley Baker