【Book Description】
In recent years, contemporary Black art has gained unprecedented recognition within the international art world. An increasing number of Black artists are being collected by major museums, featured in prestigious biennials, and celebrated in the global art market, reshaping conversations around art history, cultural identity, and social issues. Yet beyond the gallery walls and museum exhibitions, how are these works created? How do artists build a world of their own through the intersection of life and creative practice?
Another View: The Vibrant World of Contemporary Black Artists offers a unique perspective on the studios and personal spaces of twenty influential Black artists working today, revealing the often-unseen realities behind their creative lives. Featuring 150 previously unpublished photographs by artist and photographer Awol Erizku, the book documents working studios, works in progress, and the objects, environments, and experiences that inspire artistic thinking and production.
Rather than focusing solely on finished artworks, this volume places particular emphasis on the creative process itself. Through rich visual documentation and in-depth interviews, readers gain intimate insight into how these artists think, work, and engage with contemporary social issues, while exploring how art serves as a powerful medium for addressing identity, historical memory, and cultural legacy.
The featured artists span a wide range of disciplines, including painting, sculpture, photography, collage, textile art, and interdisciplinary practices. Among them are some of the most influential figures in contemporary art today, including Kerry James Marshall, Theaster Gates, Glenn Ligon, Lorna Simpson, Nick Cave, Mickalene Thomas, and Carrie Mae Weems. Their works are held in major institutional collections such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and continue to shape the direction of contemporary art worldwide.
In addition to artist interviews, the book includes essays and conversations by curator Isolde Brielmaier, along with an illuminating introduction by cultural critic and scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. Together, these texts place the rise of contemporary Black art within a broader historical and cultural context, highlighting its significance within American culture and its growing influence on the global art landscape.
More than a photographic record of artists’ studios, this book serves as an important cultural document capturing a pivotal moment in contemporary art. Through reflections on creativity, identity, and the future, it presents a vibrant portrait of contemporary Black artistic practice while offering readers a rare opportunity to understand how artists shape culture, challenge established narratives, and inspire future generations.
【Details】
Editors: Henry Louis Gates Jr., Isolde Brielmaier, Michael Lynton
Contributors: Akeem Flavors and others
Publisher: Phaidon Press
Year: 2026
Size: 30 × 25 cm
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 192 pages
