Mickalene Thomas

Not at that time. For me, it was just an outlet, a way of expressing myself, but also a place to go after school until my mother got off of work.

Not at that time. For me, it was just an outlet, a way of expressing myself, but also a place to go after school until my mother got off of work.

Yeah, so when I was in Pratt, I couldn't afford oil paint. I would rummage often through the recycled stretcher bins and gather my materials from that. All I could afford was craft materials because they were cheaper than oil paint, like felt and different fabrics and glitter. It was cheaper than tubes of oil paint.

Yeah, so when I was in Pratt, I couldn't afford oil paint. I would rummage often through the recycled stretcher bins and gather my materials from that. All I could afford was craft materials because they were cheaper than oil paint, like felt and different fabrics and glitter. It was cheaper than tubes of oil paint.

Yeah, so when I was in Pratt, I couldn't afford oil paint. I would rummage often through the recycled stretcher bins and gather my materials from that. All I could afford was craft materials because they were cheaper than oil paint, like felt and different fabrics and glitter. It was cheaper than tubes of oil paint.

I gravitated towards those materials because they were accessible and affordable for me. But what they did was open up a way of expressing myself. But then when I also, to note that during that time, it was the sensation show. at Brooklyn Museum.

I gravitated towards those materials because they were accessible and affordable for me. But what they did was open up a way of expressing myself. But then when I also, to note that during that time, it was the sensation show. at Brooklyn Museum.

I gravitated towards those materials because they were accessible and affordable for me. But what they did was open up a way of expressing myself. But then when I also, to note that during that time, it was the sensation show. at Brooklyn Museum.

So you had all of these Great Britain artists that were showing at the Sensation Show, and they were using all kinds of materials from, like, Chris Ofili, Elephant Dong, and, you know, you had Tracy Emin personally tell a story, you know, making a tent out of, like, felt and canvas and all kind of material. And so I think seeing exhibitions like that really... were paramount.

So you had all of these Great Britain artists that were showing at the Sensation Show, and they were using all kinds of materials from, like, Chris Ofili, Elephant Dong, and, you know, you had Tracy Emin personally tell a story, you know, making a tent out of, like, felt and canvas and all kind of material. And so I think seeing exhibitions like that really... were paramount.

So you had all of these Great Britain artists that were showing at the Sensation Show, and they were using all kinds of materials from, like, Chris Ofili, Elephant Dong, and, you know, you had Tracy Emin personally tell a story, you know, making a tent out of, like, felt and canvas and all kind of material. And so I think seeing exhibitions like that really... were paramount.

But yeah, there was a struggle completing some assignments because some you had to use oil paint or some you had to use the traditional materials to make the art.

But yeah, there was a struggle completing some assignments because some you had to use oil paint or some you had to use the traditional materials to make the art.

But yeah, there was a struggle completing some assignments because some you had to use oil paint or some you had to use the traditional materials to make the art.

I would borrow or, you know, some of the, my peers were, they were good. They were like, oh yeah, he used some of this. People weren't too stingy or trying to keep you away from that. But I think we all were working and they saw that I was, I was, in my studio all the time.

I would borrow or, you know, some of the, my peers were, they were good. They were like, oh yeah, he used some of this. People weren't too stingy or trying to keep you away from that. But I think we all were working and they saw that I was, I was, in my studio all the time.

I would borrow or, you know, some of the, my peers were, they were good. They were like, oh yeah, he used some of this. People weren't too stingy or trying to keep you away from that. But I think we all were working and they saw that I was, I was, in my studio all the time.

And so sometimes people throw away tubes of paint because they think it's not good and you just cut it open and it's still painted there.

And so sometimes people throw away tubes of paint because they think it's not good and you just cut it open and it's still painted there.

And so sometimes people throw away tubes of paint because they think it's not good and you just cut it open and it's still painted there.