Studios are revealing places, and a new book from Phaidon makes that intimacy its subject. Another View: The Vibrant World of Contemporary Black Artists invites readers into 20 distinctive workspaces, presenting a close look at how contemporary Black artists shape ideas amid the rhythms and routines of daily practice.
Inside the book
Spanning nearly 200 pages, the volume gathers 150 never-before-seen photographs alongside exclusive interviews and profiles. The introduction is authored by literary critic, filmmaker, and professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who explores the historical precedents and critical context that led to the exciting current moment of Black contemporary art in America, writes Phaidon. The book highlights artists such as Nick Cave, Nina Chanel Abney, Hank Willis Thomas, Carrie Mae Weems, and Kerry James Marshall, placing readers at the threshold of their creative environments and processes.
Glimpses of place and process
The scenes range from Brooklyn to Chicago, capturing workrooms in different phases of making. Among the studios pictured are those of Hank Willis Thomas (Brooklyn) and Mickalene Thomas (Brooklyn), as well as Derrick Adams (Brooklyn) and Theaster Gates (Chicago). One view of Carrie Mae Weems studio in Brooklyn centers on proof prints from her Blues & Pinks series (2020), underscoring the books behind-the-scenes vantage point and attention to the tactile artifacts that anchor an artists workflow.
Another View: The Vibrant World of Contemporary Black Artists is slated for release on October 28. With its blend of candid photography, interviews, and profiles, the book offers a concentrated look at creative spaces and the artists who bring them to life.
