The Paris Museum of Modern Art is presenting a major retrospective of American artist Kerry James Marshall titled "The Histories," running from September 18, 2026 to January 24, 2027. The exhibition brings together 70 works spanning paintings, prints, drawings, and sculptures, including eight new paintings created specifically for the show. Marshall's work reinterprets art historical codes to center Black figures and experiences, challenging the underrepresentation that has long defined art institutions.
This exhibition matters because Kerry James Marshall is one of the most influential painters of his generation, known for his monumental compositions and vibrant colors that give grand scale to everyday Black life. By directly confronting the absence of Black figures in Western art history and drawing on references from masters like Manet, Marshall's work reshapes how art history is told and who is represented. The show offers a timely opportunity to engage with themes of slavery, civil rights, and Afro-futurism through a contemporary American lens.