Born in poverty in Alabama, Artist Thornton Dial has lived his entire life in the American South. His art is informed by decades of struggle as a black working-class man and reveals a unique perspective on America’s deepest and most pervasive challenges such as its long history of race and class conflict, the war in Iraq, and the 9/11 tragedy.
This new book from Prestel Publishers features over 70 of Dial’s monumental paintings and sculptures. Drawing inspiration from the rich symbolic history of the black rural South and with no formal education, Dial has developed a truly distinct and original style. His work incorporates found objects such as plastic grave flowers, children’s toys, cow skulls, and goat carcasses, and in doing so creates highly charged visual presentations combined with turbulent fields of expressionist painting.
This book brings long overdue recognition to Dials remarkable career and gives readers a look into the creative world of one of America’s most important artists. Get it online here.
Leave a Reply