PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Mickalene Thomas, an artist from Camden, New Jersey, who is gaining global recognition, brought her groundbreaking exhibit, “All About Love,” to the Barnes Foundation in October. Now the show is winding down, but there’s still a chance to see it before it closes Jan 12.
“It’s an incredible exhibition. You will see large-scale, glittering, colorful works in a variety of media,” said Nancy Ireson, chief curator at the Barnes.
She says the Barnes was a perfect fit for the East Coast debut of Thomas’ internationally touring exhibition, which represents two decades of her work.
“We are also passionate about social justice—really passionate about equality and representation,” Ireson said.
The exhibit claims space in art history, from which Black and LGBTQ people have largely been excluded.
“We’re talking Monet, Manet, Van Gough—all of those artists that Mickalene admired and challenges and takes to a new place.”
She says Thomas, 53, is known for using rhinestones, silkscreen, collage and video to tell stories and for creating artwork that proudly centers the everyday Black woman and her power, a subject that deserves celebration.
“Mikalene does that for the here and now—Black bodies, same-sex relationships celebrated and given space, made visible.”
The exhibit speaks to a communal experience through art, witnessing the laborers who still exude excellence, self awareness and vulnerability all at once. And Ireson hopes it has proved that art is about binding together not severing apart.
“They are United by light line color and space. They can give us chances to realize where the points of contact are. The collective experience is really important,” she said.
“Art really, at its best, doesn’t need to be divisive. We have so much in common.”
“All About Love” is at the Barnes through Jan. 12.
The show travels next to the Hayward Gallery in London, Feb. 11 – May 5, and les Abattoirs Musée in Toulouse, France, June 13 – Nov. 9.