The Time is Always Now, African Art at the National Portrait Gallery
22 February - 19 May 2024
An extensive examination of the portrayal of the Black form and its depiction in modern artistic expressions.
Welcome to the National Portrait Gallery's exhibition featuring African art, curated by Ekow Eshun. This collection explores contemporary art, specifically highlighting the representation of the Black figure. The exhibition showcases works from artists of the African diaspora, including Michael Armitage, Lubaina Himid, Kerry James Marshall, Toyin Ojih Odutola, and Amy Sherald.
Displayed in the downstairs main gallery (floor 0), these works offer diverse perspectives on the richness and complexity of Black life. The artists employ unique approaches to convey their interpretations. This exhibition serves as a platform to objectively appreciate the diversity and resilience portrayed in contemporary African art. The focus is on the power of art to transcend boundaries, with each piece contributing to a broader narrative.
More than a mere exhibition, this collection invites viewers to engage with a range of contemporary masterpieces. The significance lies in the exploration of social, psychological, and cultural influences on the creation of these artworks.
She was learning to love moments, to love moments for themselves, Amy Sherald (2017) © Amy Sherald. Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth. Photo: Razvan Chiorean
Toyin Ojih Odutola, A Grand Inheritance, charcoal, pastel, and pencil on paper, 206. Rennie Collection, Vancouver
Toyin Ojih Odutola, The Adventurees Club Est, 1992, Charcoal, pastel, and pencil on paper, 2016
Portrait of a curator (in Memory of Beryl Wright), Kerry James Marshall, acrylic on PVC panel, 2009. Penny Pritzker an Bryan Traubert Collection.
Kerry James Marshall, Nude (Spotlight), Acrylic on PVC panel, 2009. Defares Collection.
Lubaina Himid, Le Rodeur: The Exchange 2016 © Lubaina Himid Courtesy of the artist and Hollybush Gardens, London.
Michael Armitage, Pathos and the twilight of the idle, oil on lubugobark cloth, 2019. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Purchased with funds provided by Paul Attanasio
Michael Armitage, Conjestina, Oil on lubugo bark cloth, 2017. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Accessions Committee Fund purchase
Michael Armitage, Kampala Suburb, oil on lubugo bark cloth, 2014. Private Collection, London
Wangechi Mutu, This second Dreamer, Bronze and wood, 2017. Courtesy of the artist and Gladstone Gallery
The Time is Always Now
Artists Reframe the Black Figure
National Portrait Gallery
Floor 0
London
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