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Trailer: Get Out (2017), Written and Directed by Jordan Peele. | Video by Universal Pictures

GET OUT was a phenomenal piece of work, artist Kerry James Marshall said. Kenya Barris, the television writer and producer, is drawn to the neon work Double America 2 (2014) by Glenn Ligon. The simplicity of it is radical and confrontational, he said. For Mickalene Thomas, Jet magazine was a game changer: It shaped not only African-American people but also American culture through entertainment, through images, through music and fashion and storytelling.

Spanning visual art, film, television, literature, music, and the performing arts, a new feature published in the New York Times explores The African-American Art Shaping the 21st Century. The newspaper posits that black creatives have profoundly influenced the arts landscape in the 20 years since the turn of the new century. Projects from Jordan Peele, Ava DuVernay, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Kara Walker, for example, have redefined genres and shifted American culture.

Its the first time since the 1970s that black art, history and political life have come together in such a broad, profound and diverse way, Wesley Morris wrote in a brief introduction to the project. Back then, the Black Arts Movement was active. Today, elements of Black Lives Matter are reflected in Beyoncs performances. Kendrick Lamar raises issues surrounding mass incarceration in his work. Moonlight brought beautiful cinematography to the big screen and, at the same time, confronted challenging issues surrounding black male sexuality.

Its the first time since the 1970s that black art, history and political life have come together in such a broad, profound and diverse way.

The Times invited 35 leading African American creators from a variety of disciplines to talk about the artist or share the work that has inspired them the most over the past 20 years. Photographer LaToya Ruby Frazier said Flint water activists. Ava DuVernay named Los Angeles Poet Laureate Robin Coste Lewis. Margo Jefferson said experimental black literature. For choreographer Kyle Abraham it was DAngelos Black Messiah album. Lena Waithe went with the TV show Atlanta. Kerry Washington said Beyoncs Lemonade album. John Legend named Ta-Nehisi Coates. Broadway star Audra McDonald selected Lizzo. Harry Belafonte chose the song Glory, a collaboration between Legend and Common. Many pointed to visual artists and a few of them also weighed in:

GLENN LIGON, Double America, 2012 (Neon and paint, 36 x 120 inches). | National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Agnes Gund

Writer/Producer Kenya Barris on Double America 2 by Glenn LigonIt turns America on itself, abstracting it. That really struck me because I find that abstract art is something black people dont really get to do. Were not given the opportunity to do black art that way. And in this piece, Glenn turns that notion on its head. For me, the simplicity of it is radical and confrontational.

Artist Kerry James Marshall on Jordan Peeles film Get OutThat was a phenomenal piece of work. It did everything that I thought a film like that was supposed to do because it seemed like real cinema. It wasnt a movie; it was cinema. When you hear him talk about the film, you can see that hes a student of cinema.

Soprano Julia Bullock on Kara WalkerThe first time I saw her work was at the Broad museum in Los Angeles. When I entered into the space there were these really dynamic silhouettes that seemed quite playful. But the closer I got, I realized what she was depicting. To say it made me happy is maybe a weird statement, but when I encounter any work of art that is talking about racism or anything thats going on with blackness, Im looking for something that is quite explicit. When dealing with this subject matter, trying to treat it politely or quote unquote appropriately, theres just no time and space for that.

Director/Writer Dee Rees on Wangechi MutuIt really jolted my thinking and reminded me of whats possible when you let your imagination fly. It was a wake-up call to being more fantastical. I remember seeing her exhibition in Brooklyn and just being completely mesmerized.

Poet Tracy K. Smith on Kahlil Josephs BLKNWSIts this video essay that uses two screens to depict imagesfrom the news, from pop culture footage, from YouTube, from cinema, from the sciencesthat speak to or just show central moments from black life. I think I sat there for about almost an hour, taking this stuff in and each element speaks to you. What I feel its doing is creating this almost large-scale sense of black humanity and what resilience it has, what forces working within and sometimes against it have looked like. I found it to be one of the most coherent and compelling examinations of blackness and of America that Ive ever seen.

Eric V. Copage, a former Times reporter and author of several books on African American culture, also contributed. Copage wrote an essay titled For Future Generations, Its Time to Reflect on Black Art. He explained the intent of the project and its lasting legacy.

Shifts in politics, performance and protest have all altered our culture in a way not seen in years, Copage wrote. The beauty of this exercise in reflection is not only to celebrate black cultural contributions to art but also record a pivotal time for our countryindeed the world. CT

FIND MORE Kahlil Joseph covered Surface magazines Art Issue in December 2019

BOOKSHELFGlenn Ligon: AMERICA, accompanied the artists 25-year survey. Kara Walker: Hyundai Commission documents Kara Walkers monumental exhibition in Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern in London. Kerry James Marshall: Mastry was published to coincide with Kerry James Marshalls 35-year survey. Also consider Kerry James Marshall: History of Painting and Kerry James Marshall (Phaidon Contemporary Artist Series). Also Wangechi Mutu: A Fantastic Journey accompanied the artists first major solo museum exhibition. Several recent volumes explore the work of Mickalene Thomas, including Mickalene Thomas: Femmes Noires, Mickalene Thomas: I Cant See You Without Me, and Muse: Mickalene Thomas: Photographs. In addition, Mickalene Thomas: Origin of the Universe was published to coincide with her first solo museum exhibition.

KARA WALKER, Installation view of Africant, 1996 (cut paper on wall, 144 x 792 inches / 365.76 x 2011.68 cm). | Kara Walker, The Broad

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The New York Times Asked African American Creatives About the Black Art That Inspires Them. Here is What They Said - Culture Type