Kerry James Marshall
A quote from Ralph Ellison'sInvisible Maninaugurates this superb treatise on the pictorially rich, intellectually spiky, and altogether masterful work of African American artist Marshall, who has as much to say about art as he does about racial identity and representation. Between Marshall's own forceful essay and the illuminating contributions of contemporary art curator Terrie Sultan and artist and filmmaker Arthur Jafa, readers will discern the genesis of Marshall's belief that old-fashioned technical proficiency and true clarity of intent are essential to making authentic art. Having declared early on that each figure he painted would be black and each image would be one "that spoke directly to the issue of blackness," Marshall has created dramatic and arch narrative works that bring about collisions between white middle-class iconography and symbols of black culture both genuine and imposed. And he has deliberately linked his work to art's grand tradition, subtly alluding to such masters as Rembrandt and Jacob Lawrence.Donna SeamanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved