Benjamin Zephaniah (1958-2023), an acclaimed British poet and political activist, passed away yesterday. Through his work, he shone a light on the injustices of capitalist society, calling for united struggle against oppression and exploitation.

Socialist Appeal comrade Nicholas Baldion is amongst the contenders for this year’s John Moores Painting Prize – the winner of which will be announced later this week. We spoke to Nicholas about his artistic work and his communist politics.

Today marks 130 years since the birth of Vladimir Mayakovsky, the Russian artist and poet, whose works have been a consistent source of inspiration for communists. We look back at the life, ideas, and contributions of this revolutionary artist.