Photo credit: Jon Jenkins
Painter Mickalene Thomas has always kept the art world on its toes with amazingly bold works that celebrate Black women. They also raise awareness and spark conversation around issues like diversity, queer identity, and self-expression.
Last year she opened an international exhibition called All About Love, that challenged traditional art history by centering on Black female identity and sexuality. She served as an advisor for GLAAD’s Communities of Color and Media initiative, which had her mentoring Black LGBTQ+ visual artists via monthly sessions that guided them on artistic practice, project development, and even navigating the art world.
In May, she unveiled a huge mosaic at the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital in Brooklyn. She called it Freesia on My Mind: The Beauty of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and she did it in partnership with RxART, a nonprofit that brings museum-quality art into healthcare settings. The work is trying to create a contemplative space where patients, their families, and even hospital staff can find some peace and mental healing. Worthy goals for anyone.
