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Our Town

Kerry James Marshall’s work often explores themes of racial identity, community, and belonging. Our Town is part of his Garden Project series, in which low-income housing projects are ironically rendered as idyllic places. The carefully painted houses, manicured lawn, and bright sky coexist uneasily with graffiti scribbles and trees tied with yellow ribbons, suggesting war or tragedy.Marshall contrasts the tidy scene, dominated by red, white, and blue, with deep black paint and minimal shading on the figures. Here, he emphasizes the blackness of his subjects in an art world that notably lacks images of African Americans. Our Town further evokes Thornton Wilder’s 1938 play of the same title, posing the question: for whom does this American ideal really exist?

Questions & Answers

Can I order an oil reproduction of "Our Town"?

"Our Town" is available as a hand-painted oil reproduction on linen canvas. The order can be placed on its Hand-Painted Reproduction page, with a choice of sizes.

How much light do the colors of "Our Town" appear to reflect?

The colors of "Our Town" show a gentle luminance luminance.

Is a download available for "Our Town"?

"Our Town" by Kerry James Marshall can be downloaded from the artwork's Download page, as a high-resolution digital image download.

Kerry James Marshall

Explore Kerry James Marshall's powerful paintings of Black figures confronting racial stereotypes & celebrating African-American life. A visionary artist of the Civil Rights era.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville, United States of America)

Explore stunning American art at Crystal Bridges Museum of Art in Bentonville, Arkansas! Free admission, Frank Lloyd Wright tours & breathtaking Ozark Mountain scenery await.

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