Kerry James Marshall's energetic paintings combine rawness and rigour

Date
27 May 2015

There’s a raw, energetic feel to the work of Kerry James Marshall – it’s all bold brushstrokes and bright colours that can’t help but channel a sense of movement and action. The Alabama-born artist now lives in Chicago, and manages to get that raw, outsider art feel combined with a rigorous eye for colour and composition. The works that have particularly pulled us in are the ones that capture their subject in a moment of repose or rapture, whether quietly sunning themselves, looking in the mirror or diving into a pool. They’re the unposed moments where people are truly themselves, and Kerry’s brushes articulate them beautifully.

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Kerry James Marshall: Great America, 1994

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Kerry James Marshall: Painting

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Kerry James Marshall: School of beauty school of culture

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Kerry James Marshall: Untitled (beach towel), 2014

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Kerry James Marshall: Untitled (red line), 2014

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About the Author

Emily Gosling

Emily joined It’s Nice That as Online Editor in the summer of 2014 after four years at Design Week. She is particularly interested in graphic design, branding and music. After working It's Nice That as both Online Editor and Deputy Editor, Emily left the company in 2016.

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