Artist Mickalene Thomas Gives Black Women Their Flowers
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Who is Mickalene Thomas and what does her art represent?
Thomas's art made me think about the slew of recent articles in the New York Times, Associated Press, Teen Vogue, and others that delve into the sentiment many Black women felt after the outcome of the presidential race. One headline read, Disillusioned by the election, some Black women are deciding to rest. Thomas's art showcases Black women not in servitude, as often depicted in fine art, but at leisure, claiming space. She often recasts scenes from the 19th century French paintings, centering Black sensuality and power. And she's also collaborated with singer Solange for an album cover, and she painted the first individual portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama, which was displayed at the National Portrait Gallery. Her latest exhibition, All About Love, is midway through an international tour with stops in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and France.
It features 50 paintings, collages, and photography spanning over two decades, inspired by the women in her life, including her mother, who died in 2012. Mickalene Thomas, welcome to Fresh Air, and I know you're battling a cold, so I want to thank you for taking the time to talk with us with this raging cold.
Thank you so much for having me. Hopefully I'm not too congested.
I want to talk about this latest conversation that many Black women are having, because as we know, Black women sit at this intersection of race and gender, which for better or worse, actually means that our existence is political. And I'm just wondering, as an artist whose muses are Black women, how would you describe your art and the messages that it's conveying?
I think I would describe my art as radically shifting sort of notions of beauty by claiming space that has been often not have us on the platform as the leading character. We've been supportive characters for far too long and historical images and that my art gives black women their flowers and let them know that they are the leading role and validating that and so there's intersections of using and juxtaposing historical tropes but also Disrupting and breaking sort of down those notions of beauty, of ideation that is hold to what is beauty, right? And so for me, I just look around my community within my world and started with my mother.
You grew up in Camden, New Jersey, about 15 minutes from the Barnes in Philadelphia, where your latest exhibit is showing. And for those who don't know, that museum is really steeped in the classics. It prides itself in showing the world's finest artists. So Matisse and Picasso are shown there.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
Who is Mickalene Thomas and what does her art represent?
1:58–5:55
2
How does Mickalene Thomas celebrate Black women in her art?
5:55–13:38
3
What was the reaction of Mickalene Thomas's family to her exhibition?
13:38–24:18
4
How does Mickalene Thomas reinterpret classic art pieces?
24:18
5
What challenges has Mickalene Thomas faced in the art world?
18:04–37:52
6
How does Mickalene Thomas use unconventional materials in her work?
37:52
7
What impact does representation in art have on communities?
18:41–46:01
Speakers
6 identifiedMore from Fresh Air
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