T-Time Talk: MONUMENT TO THE VANQUISHED PEASANT with Leah Gordon

Join us for a Tea-time Talk with artist, curator and writer Leah Gordon, as she discusses her recent exhibition Monument to the Vanquished Peasant and subsequent book, Common People. These works explore the history of the enclosure of common land in England and the stories of those who have attempted to resist. 'In 1600, 50% of England was common land. Today it is just 3%. This is the story of how that happened.'

In this talk, Gordon reflects on the making of her exhibition and book: how to tell a history of dispossession that spans centuries. She offers a reimagining of English history told by the people themselves, giving voice to the silenced history of the enclosures and the incredible visual creativity inspired by rural resistance and protest.

Leah Gordon (born Ellesmere Port, UK) is an artist, curator, and writer. Her work explores the intersectional histories of the Caribbean plantation system, the Enclosure Acts, and the creation of the British working-class. Gordon’s work amplifies ‘histories from below’ and recognises the role of carnival, folk traditions, grassroots religion in both performing and sustaining radical histories. In 2025 she exhibited her new work, Monument to the Vanquished Peasant, at the Herbert Museum as part of the Coventry Biennial, and published, Common People.