The Royal Academy of Arts in London is preparing to host the largest survey of Kerry James Marshall's work ever presented outside the United States. The exhibition, titled "Kerry James Marshall: The Histories," will showcase more than 70 iconic works spanning the Chicago-based artist's career from 1980 to the present.
Marshall, known for his vibrant paintings that boldly challenge art historical conventions, draws inspiration from art historical sources, contemporary culture, and comics to create powerful works addressing themes of race, identity, legacy, and representation. Through often monumental portraits of Black figures, the artist bridges history and the present while imagining a more inclusive future.
The exhibition, organized in collaboration with Kunsthaus Zurich and the Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris, will open on September 20 and run through January 18. Among the highlights is a monumental oil painting titled "Knowledge and Wonder," which was commissioned for the Chicago Public Library and will be on loan for the first time.
"The Histories" is thoughtfully organized into 11 thematic groups, inviting viewers on a comprehensive journey through Marshall's artistic evolution. The exhibition opens with "The Academy," painted in 2012, which features a male model in a life drawing class standing against a patterned backdrop. The figure looks directly at viewers while giving the iconic raised fist of the Black Power movement, immediately establishing the exhibition's themes of representation and resistance.
Marshall's artistic vision was shaped by his early encounters with European art in museums and books, where he recognized a stark absence of Black figures in Western painting traditions. By the 1980s, he had focused his practice on the concept of visibility, creating the seminal work "A Portrait of the Artist as a Shadow of His Former Self," which demonstrated his commitment to confronting racial stereotypes in art.
Working primarily in series or cycles, Marshall frequently addresses epochal social and political paradigms from the past, including slavery and the Middle Passage, the Black Power movement, the Civil Rights era, and the historical exclusion of people of color from Western artistic traditions. His paintings often celebrate daily African American experiences, elevating everyday activities and interactions such as gathering at barbershops, creating art, relaxing in parks, or spending time on front porches.
The exhibition includes several significant works that demonstrate the breadth of Marshall's artistic practice. "School of Beauty, School of Culture" (2012), an acrylic and glitter work on unstretched canvas measuring 274.3 x 401.3 centimeters, is part of the Birmingham Museum of Art's collection in Alabama. "Untitled" (2009), an acrylic work on PVC panel measuring 155.3 x 185.1 centimeters, belongs to the Yale University Art Gallery's collection.
Other notable pieces include "Vignette 13" (2008), "Untitled (Policeman)" (2015) from The Museum of Modern Art in New York, "Untitled (Porch Deck)" (2014) from the Kravis Collection, "De Style" (1993) from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and "Untitled (Blanket Couple)" (2014) from the Fredriksen Family Art Collection.
Marshall's artistic philosophy centers on the belief that the past can serve as a tool for shaping the future. His works consistently challenge viewers to reconsider historical narratives while celebrating the richness and complexity of African American life and culture. The artist's distinctive style combines elements of traditional portraiture with contemporary references, creating a unique visual language that speaks to both art historical traditions and current social realities.
The Royal Academy of Arts exhibition represents a significant opportunity for UK audiences to experience Marshall's comprehensive body of work. The show demonstrates how the artist has consistently used his platform to address issues of representation and visibility in the art world while creating beautiful, thought-provoking works that resonate with contemporary audiences.
Visitors interested in experiencing "Kerry James Marshall: The Histories" can find additional information and plan their visit through the Royal Academy of Arts' official website. The exhibition promises to offer an in-depth look at one of America's most important contemporary artists and his ongoing contribution to discussions about race, representation, and the power of art to shape social consciousness.
