Nathaniel Oliver: My Journey Was Long So Yours Could Be Shorter

Nathaniel Oliver imbues the tradition of Black figurative painting with magical realism. Staged vignettes rife with symbolism, their landscapes are inhabited by figures, in Oliver’s words, “grappling with their varied situations as Black adventurers”—fishing, running, swimming, on the lookout for threats both worldly and otherworldly, moving through portals to hidden dimensions. These characters explore faraway lands that exist somewhere between imagination and reality, occupying scenes that blend elements of the artist’s everyday life with a dizzying array of objects, creatures, and plants from around the world. Inspired by Black art history, speculative science fiction, and cosmic jazz, Oliver layers references into elaborate narratives writ large in oil.

Formerly Associate Professor at Ohio State University, Amanda Gluibizzi is the founding Co-Director of the New Foundation for Art History (NFAH) and Artseen Editor for the Brooklyn Rail. She specializes in mid- and late-20th century art, design, and urbanism in the United States, Europe, and Latin America. Amanda is the author of Art and Design in 1960s New York (Anthem Press, 2021).