Kerry James Marshall

In his mesmerizing figurative paintings, American artist Kerry James Marshall (b. 1955) explores history and identity, among other subjects pertaining to the African-American experience. The works in this installation—When Frustration Threatens Desire, 1990; Black Painting, 2003–2006; and Untitled (Underpainting), 2018—span the artist’s nearly forty-year career. Included in Marshall’s pantheon of artistic and cultural references are Italian Renaissance paintings, the 1960s Civil Rights movement, and African Diaspora rituals. These speak to his relentless pursuit to challenge—and correct—the art historical canon and the underrepresentation of African-Americans within it. This marks the first installation of works by the artist at Glenstone.