All of the artists in this visual research journal are contemporary. Why does that matter? Studying contemporary art allows allows me as a student to broaden my understanding of myself, my community, and the world as part of a part of a cultural dialogue. Because contemporary artists are still alive and making art, this dialogue allows for deeper critical thinking and exchange of artistic ideas within the context of both historical and current ideas and issues.
Up first is Kerry James Marshall. His work challenges the authority of Renaissance painting in art history and seeks to “reclaim the image of blackness.” This article in Even Magazine said it best: “As if to emphasize the literal truth of that statement, and to articulate the sheer and willful inaccuracy of the everyday language we rely on to sort others and ourselves into abstract color categories that carry real social consequences, Marshall paints his subjects not brown, not even dark brown, but inhumanly black.” I love the way the figure in this painting is staring straight at the viewer, challenging the gaze. I’m not sure what the image framed glass behind her is of… can you tell? Comment below!
Keltie Ferris is an American artist working in New York by combing her love of Impressionism, abstract painting, Pop art, and graffiti into huge paintings produced through intensive layering. In her latest process, she presses her oil-covered body against the canvas surface, and then brushes or sprays color onto it. Supposedly this processes is hailed as a juxtaposition of simultaneous concealing and exposing, but to me it just seems odd and a kitche way of exploring body’s role in art.
Running with the theme of painters inspired by graffiti, next we have Eddie Martinez. He is a self-taught American artist of Puerto Rican ancestry working in New York. Many of his teenage years were spent making graffiti, and his paintings on canvas reflect that rough, expressionistic lines and bold colors seen in street art and drawings. I like his art because his modality of mark making directly reinforces his intention.
Finally we have Basim Magdy who is an Egyptian artist now living in Basel, Switzerland and Cairo, Egypt. His work primarily explores themes of the unconscious and memory on n paper, film, photography, and installation. I have two upcoming painting projects that deal with memory as both subject/content and method – the next entries will focus on artists who deal with the theme as memory more! Stay tuned ❤ Thanks for reading!
MONICA HEISER 