Outliers and American Vanguard Art

This exhibition catalog for a show of the same name at the National Gallery of Art highlights artists whom readers may have heard of, such as Kara Walker and Lee Godie, and some they may not know, including Greer Lankton and Joseph Yoakum. Regardless of their degree of renown, all included are true outliers and vanguards: individuals who lived and created outside of the American mainstream. National Gallery curator Cooke provides a virtual gallery talk through 250 color plates, showing diverse artists working in a host of different media. The accompanying essays (by curators, academics, and an artist) explore the sociocultural history in which these works are immersed, creating a compelling argument for a reconsideration of the American art history canon. With any luck, this will inspire future artists to continue to create and exhibit work that reflects an inclusive American experience.