Mickalene Thomas - A Little Taste Outside of Love, 2007
Acrylic, enamel and rhinestones on wood panel 108 x 48 in. (274.3 x 121.9 cm)
Mickalene Thomas is an artist who boldly challenges the traditional representations of femininity and the objectification of women, with a particular focus on Black women. Her work is deeply inspired by the imagery of prominent African American women, symbols from the Black Power Movement, and personal photographs from her mother’s collection dating back to the 1970s.
In her art, Thomas redefines the established visual archetype of the sexualized female figure, often depicted as unaware and reclining in passive beauty. By casting an African American woman as the protagonist in this narrative, Thomas subverts the historical portrayal of the nude, which traditionally features a white European woman, frequently accompanied by a Black maidservant, in the realm of Western art. Through this act of artistic reclamation, Thomas not only overturns the conventional narrative but also celebrates the strength and beauty of Black women, asserting their rightful place at the forefront of artistic discourse.
currently part of the Brooklyn Museum permanent collection, not on view.