Artist a Day Challenge (27): Kerry James Marshall

As I near the end of my Artist a Day Challenge for Black History Month, I bring you to the very first name on my list of artists to feature this year, and that is Kerry James Marshall.

Mastry, Marshall’s critically acclaimed and highly anticipated retrospective is finally coming to MOCA Los Angeles in March after its two successful runs at the MCA in Chicago and the Met Breuer.

Marshall’s is driven by the intention to fill a void in art history by showing complete pictures of black life, more importantly, the black body.

This retrospective gives us a glimpse into his artistic journey, but to hear him speak about his work gives us a prolonged view at the context. I have taken advantage of any opportunity to see and listen to him speak about his work online and to hear him talk about what images mean to him, his place in canon and his discipline is nothing short of inspiring.

I will assuredly have much more to say about Mastry when the show opens on March 12, but until then I will leave you with these words on what Mastry means, from the artist himself.

http://players.brightcove.net/911432378001/Sys8aolzg_default/index.html?videoId=5075545954001

And here is another brilliant comment on what it means to be a black artist.  Powerful words and an incredible body of work.