An artist’s studio has long served as one of the most intimate windows into their creative practice. While some visual creatives thrive on a foundation of methodical organization, pristine surfaces, and immaculate tidiness, others reach their productive flow state amid a whirlwind of cluttered chaos where dozens of distinct ideas unfold simultaneously. Whether situated at one extreme end of this organizational spectrum or somewhere comfortably in the middle, these private workspaces offer unique, behind-the-scenes perspectives on both the artists themselves and the profound masterpieces that ultimately emerge from their confines.
Forthcoming from the renowned publishing house Phaidon, a new seminal volume titled Another View: The Vibrant World of Contemporary Black Artists invites readers directly into 20 distinctive, highly personal studio spaces. Celebrating some of the most prominent, influential, and visionary artists working today, the comprehensive book highlights a rich array of behind-the-scenes material that rarely meets the public eye. Among the celebrated figures featured in the pages of the volume are luminary contemporary artists such as Nick Cave, Nina Chanel Abney, Hank Willis Thomas, Carrie Mae Weems, Kerry James Marshall, Theaster Gates, Derrick Adams, and Mickalene Thomas, alongside many other trailblazing creators.
The introduction to Another View is written by the lauded literary critic, filmmaker, and professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. According to materials released by Phaidon, Gates thoughtfully explores the historical precedents and critical context that have paved the way for the exciting current moment of Black contemporary art in America. Across nearly 200 pages, the lavishly produced volume encompasses 150 never-before-seen photographs, exclusive interviews, and detailed profiles that collectively paint a vivid portrait of modern artistic production.
The book captures the vast diversity of mediums, geographic locations, and working methods that define contemporary Black art. For instance, a striking photograph by the publication captures conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas inside his vibrant Brooklyn studio space, sitting reflectively atop a large-scale work in progress. Elsewhere, the book transports readers to Chicago to visit the expansive and multifaceted studio of artist and urban planner Theaster Gates, whose practice often bridges sculpture, installation, and community redevelopment.
Other notable stops within the book’s pages include Derrick Adams’s studio in Brooklyn, known for its energetic explosions of color, pattern, and multidisciplinary exploration. The publication also peeks into Mickalene Thomas’s Brooklyn studio, revealing walls densely taped with inspirational imagery, source material, and photographic studies that inform her dazzling, rhinestones-embedded paintings and installations. Additionally, the volume showcases Carrie Mae Weems’s studio, featuring delicate proof prints from her acclaimed Blues & Pinks series produced in 2020, offering a tangible glimpse into the meticulous darkroom and conceptual choices of one of America’s most revered photographers.
These intimate portraits do more than simply document physical architecture; they provide crucial context regarding the labor, thought processes, and everyday environments that nurture monumental artistic achievements. By pairing stunning, previously unpublished photography with thoughtful dialogue and rigorous critical framing, Another View functions as both a visual celebration and an essential archival document of contemporary cultural production.
Another View: The Vibrant World of Contemporary Black Artists is officially slated for release on October 28. Art enthusiasts, collectors, and scholars interested in securing a copy can pre-order the volume through the Colossal Shop.
