Courttia Newland's 'The Art of Opposition' Reviewed in ArtReview
The September 2026 edition of ArtReview features an examination of 'The Art of Opposition: On Hope, Resilience & Creative Expression Beyond the Mainstream,' authored by Courttia Newland and released by Faber & Faber for £16.99 in hardcover. The critique reflects on Newland's experiences in the late 1990s while handling press responsibilities for his debut novel, 'The Scholar,' which explores the lives of inner-city teens at the age of twenty-three. It addresses the struggle to remain authentic amidst the pursuit of acknowledgment and the fight against stereotypes. The essays explore themes such as Black British literary heritage, science fiction, overlooked authors, and African cinema. The review commends Newland's enthusiasm and intellect, noting his engaging style and his vision of art rooted in radical generosity and cultural understanding.
Key facts
- ArtReview's September 2026 issue reviews Courttia Newland's 'The Art of Opposition: On Hope, Resilience & Creative Expression Beyond the Mainstream'
- The book is published by Faber & Faber at £16.99 in hardcover
- Newland was twenty-three when promoting his first novel 'The Scholar' in the late 1990s
- Photographers asked Newland to pose by graffiti or concrete walls, and one requested he climb into a shopping trolley
- Newland asked to be photographed by a tree instead
- The essays cover Black British literature, Black science fiction, Percival Everett, Rudolph Kizerman, African cinema, Roots Manuva and racist insults
- The review says Newland unearths diasporic cultures rendered subaltern in British artistic life
- The book argues art should be founded on radical generosity and openness rather than antagonism alone
Entities
Artists
- Courttia Newland
- Percival Everett
- Rudolph Kizerman
- Roots Manuva
Institutions
- ArtReview
- Faber & Faber
Locations
- Britain
- United Kingdom