Explores the critical innovations and contributions of Black artists to the history of abstraction.

This beautifully packaged volume, with two paper stocks and colorful edge stain, considers the trajectory of abstraction and interrogates what it means to be a Black abstract artist in the United States. The book features a wide range of artistic output, from historical artists such as Sam Gilliam, Alma Thomas, Ed Clark, Jennie C. Jones, and Jack Whitten to contemporary voices including Rashid Johnson, Julie Mehretu, Simone Leigh, and Theaster Gates.

Music serves as a source of inspiration for visual improvisation, and the book considers the use of music and sound, particularly jazz and blues, as part of the creative process. The book looks at the connection between traditional artisans such as quilters, potters, and West African mask makers to Black ancestral legacies. And finally, the volume examines the history of gender and gender discrimination against women artists.