Within Reach 10. Dance Stance 2003

Chris Ofili made this painting, ‘Within Reach 10. Dance Stance’, with paint and gold leaf. The limited palette allows for bold mark-making. It's like Ofili's setting up a dance between colors and shapes. Look closely, and you'll see how the redness feels almost like a stage light, casting shadows and highlighting the figures. The texture of the red and the shimmer of the gold aren’t just decorative; they are integral to how we feel the rhythm and drama of this piece. The silhouette of the dancers is beautifully awkward, and feels like it’s caught mid-motion. Ofili reminds me of Kerry James Marshall. Both artists use the figure to explore themes of identity. Chris disrupts art history by embracing improvisation.