Thornton Dial

A self-taught African-American artist born in Alabama in 1928, Dial is often compared to the very best American artists of his generation. His mixed-media constructions—usually made of wood, painted fabric and found objects—are certainly a match for anything produced by, say, Robert Rauschenberg during his "combine" years. This is Dial's first show in New York since his appearance in the 2000 Whitney Biennial.