In his multifaceted work, Kerry James Marshall strives to address “the lack in the image bank” by elevating Black figures who have been excluded from Western art. Using a variety of black pigments, the artist heightens the skin tones of his subjects to honor their identities rather than ignore them. Best known for his large-scale paintings, Marshall also works in collage, photography, video and other media.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Marshall later grew up in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, where his family relocated in 1963. As he studied art, including at the Otis Art Institute (now Otis College of Art and Design) in Los Angeles, he was struck by the absence of Black bodies in art history and museums. At the age of 25, he painted A Portrait of the Artist as a Shadow of His Former Self (1980). Its central figure, whose features almost merge with the background in their varying shades of black, references Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, the protagonist of which cannot be seen as a human being by other members of society because he is Black. For Marshall, A Portrait marked the start of an ongoing examination of the simultaneous visibility and invisibility of Black Americans.
Marshall’s practice has continued to concentrate on confronting stereotypes in the Black experience by celebrating joy and commemorating moments of Black history. His paintings frequently engage with the white-dominated traditions of the art historical canon by borrowing elements of style ranging from the Renaissance to the abstract movements of the 20th century. While he has said that he is driven by a sense of social responsibility for what he witnessed growing up in the South before the Civil Rights Act and in Los Angeles during the Watts riots of 1965, Marshall doesn’t focus on trauma in his works’ narrative scenes. Instead, they regularly depict people involved in everyday activities yet portrayed with the monumentality of a tableau painting.
Now based in Chicago, Marshall is recognized as one of the country’s leading contemporary painters, with a 2016 retrospective, "Mastry," touring the MCA Chicago, MOCA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In 2018, his painting Marshall’s Past Times (1997) sold for $21.1 million, the highest ever auction price for a work by a living Black artist.
Browse a collection of Kerry James Marshall’s art on 1stDibs.
Mastry New and Sealed Exhibition Hardcover Catalogue
By Kerry James Marshall
Located in Draper, UT
The definitive monograph on contemporary African American painter Kerry James Marshall, accompanying a major traveling retrospective. This long-awaited volume celebrates the work of ...
Archival Paper
Large MOCA LA Street Vinyl Outdoor Banner for Kerry James Marshall Show - RARE
By Kerry James Marshall
Located in New York, NY
Kerry James Marshall MOCA LA Street Banner (Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles), 2017 Silkscreen on Vinyl 95 × 34 inches Original Gigantic Flagpole Banner exhibited on the stree...
Plastic, Screen
SCOUT SERIES SET OF 6
By Kerry James Marshall
Located in Washington , DC, DC
Comes with original packaging
Thread
$350
H 24 in W 18 in
PEARL JAM X Streaming Seattle Poster on Wood Veneer Ian Williams
Located in Draper, UT
"Pearl Jam Seattle 2021 Streaming Event" Wood Edition by Ian Williams Discover the rustic charm of "Pearl Jam Seattle 2021 Streaming Event" by acclaimed artist Ian Williams. This uni...
Screen
$1,900
H 13 in W 29.5 in
"Firetruck", Contemporary Textile Mixed Media Artwork of Fire Engine
By Eustace Mamba
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Firetruck" is a one-of-a-kind piece created by Eustace Mamba. This oils, acrylics, sewn mixed media, velcro, and thread artwork measures 13"h x 29.5"w and ships with a gallery-issue...
Canvas, Thread, Paint, Oil, Acrylic
$1,200
H 14.5 in W 14.5 in D 3.25 in
"Vault in Blossom", Pink Abstract Folded Paper Wall Sculpture
By Matt Shlian
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Vault in Blossom" is an original artwork by Matthew Shlian made of hand-folded archival paper. This piece measures 14.5”h x 14.5”w x 3.25"d and is signed by the ar...
Archival Paper
$3,200
H 7.5 in W 8 in D 1 in
Journey Trees IV, Sara Brennan, hand-woven textile wall sculpture
By Sara Brennan
Located in Wilton, CT
Journey Trees IV, linens and swing threads, 7.5" x 8" x 1", 2021. This figurative woven textile piece is by UK-based textile artist, Sara Brennan (b. 196...
Fabric, Textile, Tapestry, Linen, Thread
$3,200
H 8 in W 8 in D 1 in
Journey Trees III, Sara Brennan, hand-woven textile wall sculpture
By Sara Brennan
Located in Wilton, CT
Journey Trees III, linens and swing threads, 8" x 8" x 1", 2021. This figurative woven textile piece is by UK-based textile artist, Sara Brennan (b. 1963...
Fabric, Textile, Tapestry, Linen, Thread
$1,088
H 7.49 in W 9.69 in
Modern Indian Art Adoration Mother Child Watercolour Painting India
Located in Norfolk, GB
P Solomon Raj Adoration Watercolour on Paper 2006 Sheet Size: 19cm x 24.6cm Image size: 14.6cm x 19.6cm
Watercolor, Archival Paper
$160
H 6 in W 6 in
"Emblem" paper collage, hand-embroidery, neon, geometric pattern, thread
By Kelly Kozma
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Emblem" is an original artwork made from collage, hand embroidery, and latex paint on canvas by Kelly Kozma. This piece is shipped in the pictured white frame and measures 6"h x 6"w framed. The catalyst for this new body of work was a jar of leftover magazine cutouts from a collage I made in 2010. Reusing leftover materials as well repurposing items that might end up thrown away, has become a very important part of my process the past decade. Stumbling across this jar of coin sized images that had waited patiently on a shelf for 12 years, ignited my creative process and drove me to explore collage in a new way. Unlike the piece from 2010 in which I assembled the images by piecing them together, I decided to examine each individual cut out on its on. By removing the image from any other context it allows you to focus solely on its meaning, purpose or feelings that it may evoke. Each image is embedded in a field of French knots which felt like a way of creating a time capsule of sorts for the object. Another inspiration behind this collection is my six year old son and his endless piles of sticks, stones, leaves, etc in our home. Only to him they aren’t sticks and stones, they are treasures. His ability to find a tiny twig or scrap of paper and not only cherish it but give it a backstory of why it is so special, is a beautiful thing and one I have tried to tap into with my new work. By placing a picture of a rubberband ball or a set of Dracula teeth or a banana in this embroidered box...
Thread, Paper
This Bouquet: Mixed Media Artwork, Collage & Embroidery
By Kelly Kozma
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "This Bouquet" is an original artwork made from collage, hand embroidery, and latex paint on canvas by Kelly Kozma. This piece is shipped in the pictured white fram...
Thread, Paper
"Popular Item" Paper collage, hand-embroidery, sushi, rice motif
By Kelly Kozma
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Popular Item" is an original artwork made from collage, hand embroidery, and latex paint on canvas by Kelly Kozma. This piece is shipped in the pictured white frame and measures 6"h x 6"w framed. The catalyst for this new body of work was a jar of leftover magazine cutouts from a collage I made in 2010. Reusing leftover materials as well repurposing items that might end up thrown away, has become a very important part of my process the past decade. Stumbling across this jar of coin sized images that had waited patiently on a shelf for 12 years, ignited my creative process and drove me to explore collage in a new way. Unlike the piece from 2010 in which I assembled the images by piecing them together, I decided to examine each individual cut out on its on. By removing the image from any other context it allows you to focus solely on its meaning, purpose or feelings that it may evoke. Each image is embedded in a field of French knots which felt like a way of creating a time capsule of sorts for the object. Another inspiration behind this collection is my six year old son and his endless piles of sticks, stones, leaves, etc in our home. Only to him they aren’t sticks and stones, they are treasures. His ability to find a tiny twig or scrap of paper and not only cherish it but give it a backstory of why it is so special, is a beautiful thing and one I have tried to tap into with my new work. By placing a picture of a rubberband ball...
Thread, Paper
$1,200
H 14.5 in W 14.5 in D 3.25 in
"Vault in Copper", Abstract Geometric Folded Paper Sculpture
By Matt Shlian
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Vault in Copper" is an original artwork by Matthew Shlian made of hand-folded archival paper. This piece measures 14.5”h x 14.5”w x 3.25"d and is signed by the art...
Archival Paper
$3,200
H 20.5 in W 18 in D 1.5 in
"Ara 715 test in Steel Grey", Folded Abstract Wall Paper Sculpture
By Matt Shlian
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Ara 715 test in Steel Grey" is an original artwork by Matthew Shlian made of hand-folded archival paper. This piece measures 20.5"h x 18"w x 1.5"d and is signed by...
Archival Paper
$2,250
H 24 in W 18 in
Ozzy Osbourne Back to the Beginning Print Black Sabbath Farewell Tour Street Art
By Shepard Fairey
Located in Draper, UT
Manufacturer: Obey Giant Edition Details: Year: 2025 Class: Poster Status: Official Released: 07/10/25 Run: 223/500 Technique: Screen Print Paper: 80# True White Speckletone Paper wi...
Screen
$1,900
H 10 in W 32 in
"SEPTA Bus", Figurative Textile Artwork of Philadelphia City Bus
By Eustace Mamba
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"SEPTA Bus" is a one-of-a-kind piece created by Eustace Mamba. This oils, acrylics, sewn mixed media, velcro, and thread artwork measures 10"h x 32"w and ships with a gallery-issued ...
Canvas, Thread, Paint, Oil, Acrylic
$300
H 5.75 in W 7.75 in
"Honoring Mothers" Cross Stitch Hand Embroidery on Vintage Stamp
By Han Cao
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Honoring Mothers" is an original piece by Han Cao and is made from hand embroidery on found antique postcard from the 1970s, with cotton and silk thread. This piec...
Thread, Found Objects, Archival Paper
$280Sale Price|20% Off
H 12.5 in W 15.75 in
"Hawaii, Japan, Paris, and New York (1991)" Suite Containing Four Serigraphs
By Yamin Young
Located in Chesterfield, MI
"Hawaii, Japan, Paris, and New York, 1991" is a suite containing four signed, Limited Edition Serigraphs by the artist Yamin Young (Chinese, b. 1959). The prints are 12.5 x 15.75 in....
Screen
Sold
H 19 in W 25 in D 0.1 in
Kerry James Marshall Souvenir 1 Pillow Sham Mastry Los Angeles
By Kerry James Marshall
Located in Draper, UT
200 Produced on behalf of the 2017 Mastry Exhibition in Los Angeles Condition is sealed in original plastic 19 x 25 inches Digital Screenprint on Cotton Percale and Cotton Duck Thr...
Cotton
SCOUT SERIES SET OF 6
By Kerry James Marshall
Located in Washington , DC, DC
comes with original packaging
Thread