Mickalene Thomas

MICKALENE THOMAS (Camden, New Jersey, 1971).
“Portrait of Maya #10,” 2024.
UV pigment print and color silkscreen on 410 g Somerset Tub Sized Radiant White paper, with metallic layers, glitter, shimmer effects, and matte varnish.
Signed, dated, and numbered edition.
Edition of 732 copies.
Unframed.
Provenance: private collection, Germany.
Measurements: 59.3 x 52.5 cm.

Mickalene Thomas presents a female figure with a direct gaze and confident demeanor, constructed through the layering of photography, drawing, and decorative motifs. The hallmarks of contrast—patterns, shimmering effects, and the central panel—create an image of great visual intensity. The work addresses issues of identity, beauty, and the representation of African American women, critically reexamining traditional models of portraiture and the male gaze.

Mickalene Thomas is a prominent American artist known for her portraits of African American women created using paint, photography, collage, and shimmering materials. Her work reflects on identity, gender, desire, and the history of Western art. She is represented in major collections, including those of MoMA and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.