Barkley L. Hendricks: Piles of Inspiration Everywhere

An unprecedented glimpse into the life and creative process of Barkley L. Hendricks.

Barkley L. Hendricks: Piles of Inspiration Everywhere explores the physical space where renowned artist Barkley L. Hendricks worked and lived. A collaboration between photographer David Katzenstein and Hendricks’s wife Susan, this book invites readers into the space Barkley and Susan shared for thirty-five years, offering readers a bold, detailed study of the artist’s life.

With large, double-page spread illustrations, this book takes the reader on a journey into the otherwise publicly inaccessible home and studio of Hendricks, showcasing the environment that both inspired and energized him. Writings from the artist’s own journals published alongside the stunning photographs of his personal surroundings, this book ultimately offers an unprecedented look into this groundbreaking artist’s life and creative process.

As managing director of the Estate of Barkley L. Hendricks, Susan Hendricks honors the artist’s iconic portrayal of African American identity and culture and expands his reach through engagement with museums, galleries, and cultural institutions. She works to ensure that Hendricks’s groundbreaking contributions to contemporary art remain accessible to future generations and are recognized for their profound impact on both art history and social discourse. New York-based photographer David Katzenstein travels the world on his lifelong artistic journey as a visual chronicler of humanity. Using subject, light, and composition to create visual dynamism, he invites viewers to be in the moment with him. Katzenstein is the managing editor of the Barkley L. Hendricks Photography Archive. To date, he has published three monographs: Ritual, Distant Journeys, and Brownie, all published by Hirmer.