POWERFUL images from a leading artist of America's civil rights movement have gone on show in Manchester.

Urbis is the first venue in the country to exhibit art which promoted black rights by the Black Panther Party in the 60s.

Emory Douglas's graphic designs, posters and cartoons were created to encourage largely illiterate African American communities to challenge police brutality and white supremacy.

The exhibition features wall-sized black and white photographs of Douglas working on the layout of the Party's newspaper, The Black Panther, and of his arrest as police tried to shut the paper down.

Urbis chief executive Vaughan Allen said: "Emory Douglas's work is of its time but is still as pertinent today, in Manchester and around the world.

"The Black Panther exhibition at Urbis will relive some of the pivotal moments in the civil rights movement, through the work of this uncompromising socially-driven artist.

"It's a real honour to host Emory Douglas and his work in Manchester, offering British audiences a first chance to share his talent and his tenacity."

Douglas, 62, who was also the minister of culture for the Black Panther Party still works as a campaign artist for civil rights.

The free exhibition is open now and runs until April.