Curated by Deborah Smith

History painting seems relevant again, with younger artists diving into the narrative waters en masse. So the timing’s perfect for this survey of Kerry James Marshall’s paintings, sculptures, and works on paper. Marshall has often been pigeonholed as naive or too American, which may explain why this is his first British solo show. Yet his painting is not just political, but sharply experimental in its treatment of surface and illusion. Perhaps this drew Luc Tuymans to write for the catalogue, which also includes an essay by Valerie Cassel Oliver.

Travels to BALTIC, Gateshead, Feb. 4–Apr. 23, 2006; New Art Gallery Walsall, England, May 12–July 2, 2006; Modern Art Oxford, July 25–Oct. 22, 2006.

— Katy Siegel