the Academy 2012

Kerry James Marshall made "the Academy" with acrylic on canvas, and it feels like the kind of painting that emerges from a slow simmer. I wonder if he set up a stage in his studio, like a theater of sorts? The figure is a dark silhouette, posed as if giving a speech or flexing, surrounded by swathes of fabric. The material presence of paint is so important here. It's not just about representation; it's about the sheer materiality of the surface, the way color sits next to color. That stage, though, is fascinating. It’s like he’s saying something about who gets to be seen, who gets to occupy space. The figure is powerful, but also vulnerable. It feels like Marshall is in conversation with artists like Manet and Matisse, while pushing the boundaries of portraiture. Artists are always remixing what came before them.