Published to coincide with the National Portrait Gallery exhibition, The Time is Always Now, opening February 2024. This book provides a lively and gift-worthy introduction to 22 of the biggest names and works in Black figuration, highlighting key pieces within the exhibition. Each illustrated artwork is accompanied by a short biography of the artist and quotes about their own creative process.
"What happens when Black artists depict Black figures?
What art does this produce, and what worlds of possibility does this reveal?"
Ekow Eshun
The Time is Always Now, curated by Ekow Eshun (former Director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts), showcases the work of contemporary African diasporic artists, including Michael Armitage, Lubaina Himid, Kerry James Marshall, Toyin Ojih Odutola and Amy Sherald, whose figures illuminate the richness and complexity of Black life.