Influential Contemporary Artist; Reframer of Art History Through Black Representation

Chicago, IL, USA
Live Event: $5,000 - $10,000 Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

Kerry James Marshall Biography

Kerry James Marshall is a prominent contemporary artist whose work engages with Western art history, from the Renaissance to 20th-century American Abstraction, challenging and recontextualizing the canon to address themes and depictions historically omitted from mainstream narratives. Marshall foregrounds Black subjects in his paintings, addressing what he describes as "the lack in the image bank" and contributing to ongoing conversations about representation in visual art.

Born in Birmingham during the American Civil Rights movement and later relocating to the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles before the Watts riots, Marshall draws inspiration from his personal history and broader elements of the American experience. His work reflects on social, political, and cultural issues, often exploring the intersections of race, identity, and art history.

Marshall's career spans five decades. After earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Otis Art Institute, he began exhibiting regularly on the West Coast and held his first solo show at Jack Shainman Gallery. His first traveling exhibition, "Telling Stories," opened at the Cleveland Museum of Art and was followed by exhibitions such as "Mementos" at the Renaissance Society in Chicago and "Along The Way" at Camden Arts Center in London.

Marshall has been the subject of major touring exhibitions, including "Mastry" at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, which traveled to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. He has also participated in European surveys at Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst Antwerpen, Kunsthal Charlottenborg in Copenhagen, Antoni Tapies Foundation in Barcelona, and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid. Additional solo exhibitions have been held at Vienna Secession and the National Gallery in Washington, DC. Marshall's work has been featured in group exhibitions, biennials, and public commissions, including the Venice Biennale, Carnegie International, and Documenta. He received a MacArthur Grant and has been commissioned to create stained glass windows for the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.

Marshall's paintings and artworks are included in public collections at institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago, Birmingham Museum of Art, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Harvard Art Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Ludwig Museum in Cologne, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Museum of Modern Art, National Gallery of Art, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Studio Museum in Harlem, Tate Modern, Whitney Museum of American Art, and Yale University Art Gallery.

BOOK Kerry James Marshall

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 04/01/2026.

Kerry James Marshall Videos

Kerry James Marshall wants to see black people in art, all the time ...

Kerry James Marshall wants to see black people in art, all the time ...

Artist Kerry James Marshall discusses his relationship to the Old Masters and considers his inspiration for developing a "rhetoric of blackness" in...

Kerry James Marshall: In Conversation | Tate Talks

Kerry James Marshall: In Conversation | Tate Talks

Watch acclaimed American artist Kerry James Marshall discuss his career, work, and explorations of black culture.

MCA Talk: Kerry James Marshall

MCA Talk: Kerry James Marshall

Kerry James Marshall discusses his practice and the retrospective exhibition of his work at the MCA, April 23, 2016.

  • How do I book Kerry James Marshall to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Kerry James Marshall for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Kerry James Marshall, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Kerry James Marshall or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Kerry James Marshall

    Speaking fees for Kerry James Marshall, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Kerry James Marshall are under $10,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Kerry James Marshall, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Kerry James Marshall speak about?

    Kerry James Marshall is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Anti-Racism, Art & Design, Black Heritage, Black History Month, Culture, Diversity & Inclusion, Social Activism
  • Where does Kerry James Marshall travel from?

    Kerry James Marshall generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Kerry James Marshall’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Kerry James Marshall for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Kerry James Marshall for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Kerry James Marshall or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Kerry James Marshall is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Kerry James Marshall for your event is available upon request. Kerry James Marshall generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Kara Walker, Mark Bradford, Damon Davis, Kehinde Wiley and Lorna Simpson. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Kerry James Marshall for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP