Mickalene Thomas (b. 1971) is a contemporary visual artist best known for her opulent figurative works created with rhinestones, acrylic, and enamel. Thomas’s compositions are inspired by popular art movements, including Impressionism, Cubism, Dada, Pop Art, and the Harlem Renaissance, and examine ideas around femininity, beauty, race, sexuality, and gender. Her work is held by the Akron Art Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Brooklyn Museum, MFA Boston, MoMA, SFMoMA, Smithsonian Museum, and the Whitney.

Artist Statement