"The women I work with are powerhouses: their prowess is undeniable. I only hope to bring forth their true selves.”
Defiantly tender portraits by a powerhouse of contemporary art
Mickalene Thomas set out to change the face of art history, and that's exactly what she did. In her loud but tender multimedia portraits, Black femme power, beauty and desire take centre stage. Whether it's the artist herself, her mother, a lover, a friend or a public figure like Michelle Obama, each woman tells her own story. In Thomas' words: "The gaze of my work is unapologetically a Black woman's gaze loving other Black women."¹ This deep sense of adoration and respect comes through in all of her art – not just her portraits but her interiors and photography too. The bright Pop Art-esque b...
Bio
Mickalene Thomas (she/her) was born in 1971 in New Jersey, United States and is now based in Brooklyn.
Did you know?
Initially, Thomas planned to pursue pre-law and theatre arts, but in 1994 seeing Kitchen Table Series by Carrie Mae Weems convinced her to try art school. "It was the first time I saw work by an African-American female artist that reflected myself. It was probably one of the most formidable experiences.”
Accolades
During her career, Thomas has received countless awards including Anonymous Was A Woman Award (2013), Visionary Award, Pioneer Works (2019) and Rema Hort Mann Foundation 25th Anniversary Honouree (2022).
