Multiplicity : Blackness in Contemporary American Collage

An engaging introduction to contemporary Black American collage brings together art by fifty artists that reflects the breadth and complexity of Black identity  “A lavish catalog . . . provides not just beautiful reproductions of the artworks but also commentary on the way these artists, and others, have used collage to address the full range of Black experience.”—Margaret Renkl, New York Times   Building on a technique that has roots in European and American traditions, Black artists have turned to collage as a way to convey how the intersecting facets of their lives combine to make whole individuals.

Artists have assembled pieces of paper, fabrics, and other, often salvaged, materials to create unified compositions that express the endless possibilities of Black-constructed narratives despite the fragmentation of our times.   As artist Deborah Roberts asserts, “With collage, I can create a more expansive and inclusive view of the Black cultural experience.”   More than 50 artists are represented in the book’s 140 color images, with some creating original artworks for this project.

Featured artists include such well-known figures as Mark Bradford, Lauren Halsey, Kerry James Marshall, Wangechi Mutu, Howardena Pindell, Tschabalala Self, Lorna Simpson, Mickalene Thomas, and Kara Walker.

In addition to scholarly essays, the publication contains short biographies of each artist written by Fisk University students.   Distributed for the Frist Art Museum  Exhibition Schedule:  Frist Art Museum, Nashville, TN (September 15–December 31, 2023)  Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX (February 18–May 12, 2024)  The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC (July 6–September 22, 2024)