Mule 

Charly Palmer’s painting, Mule, is made with acrylic on canvas, a common combination for contemporary painters. But the way Palmer handles these materials is what makes the work so compelling. The thick application of paint gives the entire composition a feeling of weight, echoing the heavy labor suggested by the figures. Notice how the artist uses the material qualities of acrylic to render form, and the blocky composition, built up from many distinct strokes. There’s a clear connection here to the long history of figurative painting, but also a distinctive approach that acknowledges a debt to folk art, prioritizing direct expression and immediacy over illusionism. The figures, working with the animal, suggests the deep reliance on manual labor that defined much of the African American experience, particularly in the rural South. Palmer does not shy away from this history; he embraces it, offering us an image of dignity and strength. Only by understanding the history of labor and class, can we appreciate the full depth and complexity of this work.