Better Homes, Better Gardens 1994

Kerry James Marshall conjured up this vision, Better Homes, Better Gardens, using acrylic on canvas. The canvas is layered with visual narratives that invite us into a space that feels both familiar and surreal. I can almost feel the artist layering each stroke, building up these scenes with trial, error, and a whole lot of intuition. He’s creating an image and an idea. The juxtaposition of stark black figures against a backdrop of idealized domesticity really gets me. What was Marshall thinking as he laid down those brushstrokes? The surface, with its calculated flatness, feels like a stage for the drama of everyday life. It’s like he’s saying, “Here we are, existing in this space, challenging the narrative.” We can feel the emotional and intellectual weight he is carrying and how it resonates. This piece is part of an ongoing conversation, a lineage of artists speaking to each other across time. We carry the weight, but are inspired to keep making.