Birmingham: The Brutiful Years

Meet the authors and designer of the critically acclaimed book, Birmingham: The Brutiful Years (designed by Sharonjit Sutton and published by The Modernist).

Authors Mary Keating, Jenny Marris and John Bell, who form part of The Brutiful Action group and designer Sharonjit Sutton, discuss Birmingham’s relationship with its post war architecture, followed by a Q&A and book signing. The event is hosted by Dr Linzi Stauvers, Acting Artistic Director, Education, at Ikon. Birmingham: The Brutiful Years is available to purchase in-store or shop online.

This event is organised to coincide with Ikon’s exhibition Horror in the Modernist Block.

Horror in the Modernist Block is supported by Fluxus Art Projects, Embassy of the Netherlands, Freelands Foundation, Italian Cultural Institute and The Modern Institute.

About the authors

Mary Keating has been an enthusiastic voice of Modernist architecture for many years. Living in a John Madin designed house, she was at the forefront of the campaign to save Birmingham Central Library.

A love of John Madin’s iconic Central Library prompted Jenny Marris to join the campaign. This led to an interest in Modernist and Brutalist architecture, and a commitment to raise awareness of an important period in Birmingham’s architectural history.

Having worked for some time in Coventry and appreciating the Modernist redevelopment of the city, John Bell found a different story in Birmingham. He gave his design and photographic skills to support the campaign to save Central Library, becoming a founding member of Brutiful.