Mickalene Thomas celebrates female beauty, sexuality, desire, and power through her spectacular staged photographs and dazzling patchwork paintings crafted from acrylic, rhinestones, and enamel. Her vibrant compositions, often centered on Black female subjects, feature bold pops of color, 1970s-style patterns, and nods to art historical figures like Picasso and Manet. These juxtapositions enable Thomas to delve into Black women's relationships with both art history and contemporary culture. 

Thomas's acclaim is reflected in solo exhibitions at prestigious institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, the Bass Museum in Miami, the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. Her work commands impressive auction prices, reaching upwards of seven figures. In addition to her fine art, Thomas has shot for high-profile publications including W, Out, and T: The New York Times Style Magazine. She also creates elaborate installations to showcase her artworks, further enhancing their immersive impact.

Mickalene Thomas

American

Main

Artist

Printer

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November 1981