A portrait of Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Dr Margaret Jacobi is being featured as part of the Everyday Heroes exhibition at the Southbank Centre.

Everyday Heroes is an outdoor exhibition celebrating the contributions that key workers and frontline staff have made during the pandemic. It contains artworks and poems by 21 of the leading names in British arts.

The portrait of Margaret, who serves Birmingham Progressive Synagogue (BPS), was painted by Matthew Krishanu whose father, Reverend Stephen Barton, was a friend of BPS until his death in 2016. The artist has remained in contact with the synagogue and Margaret.

Margaret said: “Matthew asked me to send a photo of me at work, on which he could base his painting, and as most of my work was at home, I sent one of me at home with the Torah.

“I like the sense of gentleness and calm he has created in the portrait.”

The picture of Margaret forms part of Matthew’s multi-part study of female religious leaders in Birmingham, described as a portrait of faith in adversity.

The exhibition also features doctors, nurses, shopkeepers, refuse collectors, public transport driers and all those who have kept the country going during the COVID-19 crisis.

Hayward Gallery Director Ralph Rugoff said: “This extraordinary period in our history demands that arts organisations find new ways of responding to the moment and bringing art to the public. Everyday Heroes aims to celebrate those people who have helped to hold society together in one way or another over the course of this year.

“At the same time it also highlights a range of ingenious and inspired approaches to image-making and poetry whilst bringing the unparalleled site of the Southbank Centre to life in an entirely new way.”

Everyday Heroes is open from September until November. More information can be found at www.southbankcentre.co.uk.

• Top picture: Installation view of Matthew Krishanu’s works at the Southbank Centre’s Everyday Heroes exhibition – photo by Linda Nylind.
• Second picture: Rabbi Margaret Jacobi’s portrait – photo by Peter Mallet