Mickalene Thomas

Most of my family members were going to see my work for the first time in person, like my aunts and uncles, my cousins.

Yeah, even my father showed up. My brothers brought my father. And a lot of times, you know, people have their own understanding of art. And sometimes, you know, art can be a little elitist and we kind of go off and do things and it's conceptual and, you know, visually you might not understand. And some of them were going to see my mother and reposed in the nude.

Yeah, even my father showed up. My brothers brought my father. And a lot of times, you know, people have their own understanding of art. And sometimes, you know, art can be a little elitist and we kind of go off and do things and it's conceptual and, you know, visually you might not understand. And some of them were going to see my mother and reposed in the nude.

Yeah, even my father showed up. My brothers brought my father. And a lot of times, you know, people have their own understanding of art. And sometimes, you know, art can be a little elitist and we kind of go off and do things and it's conceptual and, you know, visually you might not understand. And some of them were going to see my mother and reposed in the nude.

They would see me reposed and reclined in a nude. And they may go, why are you doing that? Yeah. It's so interesting. Why are you showing all that? Why are you exposing yourself?

They would see me reposed and reclined in a nude. And they may go, why are you doing that? Yeah. It's so interesting. Why are you showing all that? Why are you exposing yourself?

They would see me reposed and reclined in a nude. And they may go, why are you doing that? Yeah. It's so interesting. Why are you showing all that? Why are you exposing yourself?

Well, one of my cousins was like, why are you going to go and show your mom that way? And I said, well, you know, my mother loves being shown that way. She actually gave me the permission to photograph her exposed. And so I think for them, they were so proud and excited to just be a part of it. Most of them came to the opening night, which was a gala event. So it was a

Well, one of my cousins was like, why are you going to go and show your mom that way? And I said, well, you know, my mother loves being shown that way. She actually gave me the permission to photograph her exposed. And so I think for them, they were so proud and excited to just be a part of it. Most of them came to the opening night, which was a gala event. So it was a

Well, one of my cousins was like, why are you going to go and show your mom that way? And I said, well, you know, my mother loves being shown that way. She actually gave me the permission to photograph her exposed. And so I think for them, they were so proud and excited to just be a part of it. Most of them came to the opening night, which was a gala event. So it was a

It's extravaganza, you know, it's like very just like colorful and just lots of different types of people and the music and energy. So I think for them to experience that part of my life made them feel special because I admit I haven't always been open to sharing that part of my life.

It's extravaganza, you know, it's like very just like colorful and just lots of different types of people and the music and energy. So I think for them to experience that part of my life made them feel special because I admit I haven't always been open to sharing that part of my life.

It's extravaganza, you know, it's like very just like colorful and just lots of different types of people and the music and energy. So I think for them to experience that part of my life made them feel special because I admit I haven't always been open to sharing that part of my life.

Freeing. It felt freeing and it felt supportive. And just to see the smiles. My brother stood in front of one of the paintings of my mother titled Dim All the Lights. She's wearing a red and black sweater and her hands are on the side. And it was quite beautiful to watch him engage with with the painting.

Freeing. It felt freeing and it felt supportive. And just to see the smiles. My brother stood in front of one of the paintings of my mother titled Dim All the Lights. She's wearing a red and black sweater and her hands are on the side. And it was quite beautiful to watch him engage with with the painting.

Freeing. It felt freeing and it felt supportive. And just to see the smiles. My brother stood in front of one of the paintings of my mother titled Dim All the Lights. She's wearing a red and black sweater and her hands are on the side. And it was quite beautiful to watch him engage with with the painting.

But he stood there just, and I was behind him speaking with other family members, but I was watching him on the side. And he kept gesturing the same movement as her for a long time. And then he turned around and said, that's her. I know that, Stan. I know that's her. That's what she does. And that just made me feel so, and he had this glow and this light

But he stood there just, and I was behind him speaking with other family members, but I was watching him on the side. And he kept gesturing the same movement as her for a long time. And then he turned around and said, that's her. I know that, Stan. I know that's her. That's what she does. And that just made me feel so, and he had this glow and this light

But he stood there just, and I was behind him speaking with other family members, but I was watching him on the side. And he kept gesturing the same movement as her for a long time. And then he turned around and said, that's her. I know that, Stan. I know that's her. That's what she does. And that just made me feel so, and he had this glow and this light

And I think for him, you know, my mother's birthday was coming up, so it was like this energy. You know, my mother's birthday, October 27th. The opening was October 18th. So I think it was this energy. She was there, right? And there was this moment that you had to witness that you could see he was connecting to her.