Mickalene Thomas (b.1971) is an American artist exploring the intersection of popular culture and art history, through a contemporary Black female gaze. As an openly gay Black woman, sexuality and race are essential themes in Thomas' practice.
Thomas frequently creates portraits of Black women. Her subjects, or muses, emanate an air of confidence or nonchalance and are often surrounded by abstract or patterned elements from an array of sources and eras. Elements of Blaxploitation, Pop Art, Cubism, Dadaism, and even Renaissance art appear in her work.
Often invoking poses and compositions of classical art, Thomas subverts art history through reclaiming its subjects as Black women. Her images refuse the historical erasure of Black women in art, especially that of Black women viewed as empowered subjects of beauty or glamour. By rebelling against the traditional oppressive narratives, Thomas' portraits have forged a new space of their own in the art world.
Thomas' exploration of perception lies at the core of her practice, examining how she sees her muses and how they view themselves. Her investigation often extends beyond self image, expanding into vibrant domestic spaces with an amalgamation of color, pattern, and bygone design that act as signifiers of individuality and expression.
"Red Couch and Landscape" is a paradigm of Thomas' interiors. By curating eclectic source material from magazines and catalogs, the artist tells a story of domesticity, both idealized and nostalgic. With her muse notably omitted, Thomas invites the viewer to imagine a narrative about this space, who might inhabit it, and what they project with their aesthetic choices.
Thomas' works can be found in numerous permanent collections including the Museum of Modern Art (NY), Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal, the Guggenheim (NYC), the Smithsonian American Art Museum (NYC), and the Whitney (NYC) among many others.
Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto gallery.
"Interior: Red Couch and Landscape"
USA, 2024
UV pigment print on Somerset Tub Sized Radiant White 410 gsm paper with 2 silkscreen metallic shimmer and glitter layers, 2 satin and gloss detail layers, and a matte varnish silkscreen seal.
Signed, dated in pencil, lower right margin
Numbered "159/379" in pencil, lower left margin
From an edition of 379
15"H 23.25"W (work)
16.5"H 24.75"W (Framed with museum glass)
Very good condition
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