Unveiled in September 2024, this vibrant mural celebrates six pioneering African women in healthcare: Dr Matilda Johanna Clerk, Dzagbele Matilda Asante, Metian Parsanka, Kofoworola Abeni “Ivy” Pratt, Blanche La Guma (née Herman), and Dr Irene Elizabeth Beatrice Ighodaro (née Wellesley-Cole).

Painted by Dr Michele Curtis, a Bristol-based artist and heritage interpreter, the mural was commissioned by the Young Historians Project with support from Guy’s and St Thomas’ Arts Department and funding from the Untold Stories grant, part of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm.

The artwork highlights women working in medicine across different eras — from Metian Parsanka, a Kenyan-born advanced clinical practitioner at St Thomas’ Hospital today, to African healthcare pioneers who served in Britain before the creation of the NHS. Framing the mural are African medicinal plants, symbolising healing and continuity.

This is the third piece in a commemorative series by Dr Curtis, whose work celebrates the contributions of the African and Caribbean community and challenges the lack of Black representation in public art. Her practice centres on storytelling, equality, and shared history. Curtis is also the founder and director of Iconic Black Britons, a platform amplifying these voices through art.