Mickalene Thomas Highlights Family, Community, and Purpose in Video Series for Exhibition

In a compelling new video series, artist Mickalene Thomas offers a deeply personal reflection on her groundbreaking exhibition, All About Love. 

Produced by The Broad and distributed by ESSENCE, the series features intimate interviews with Thomas as she delves into the key themes of her work. Titled “All About Motherhood,” “All About Community,” and “All About Purpose,” each video explores the ideas of love, representation, and legacy that fuel her artistic practice.

Filmed by Brandon Bloom, with additional footage from Thomas’ daughter Junya, the series provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how family has shaped her creative vision. Junya’s commentary adds a unique, intimate layer, offering insights into her mother’s powerful depictions of Black women and their significance in society.

Throughout the series, Thomas, a New Jersey native, discusses how her mother’s influence has driven her commitment to celebrating BIPOC communities in museums and why she remains dedicated to championing Black representation in the art world. She ties her exhibition’s themes to the work of feminist author bell hooks and her book All About Love, grounding her art in a transformative process of healing and liberation.

“It’s really about connecting with people,” Thomas shared in the “All About Community” excerpt. “I feel very fortunate that what I do and who I am—not only as a person but as an artist—that I’m acting as a conduit for culture and change. And because I’m using my creative practice to foster these notions of creating impact and inspiration, it’s really important to remember the value of relationships. People remember how you make them feel.”

With over 90 pieces on display, Mickalene Thomas: All About Love invites viewers to experience two decades of her artistic mastery across painting, collage, photography, and installation. 

The exhibition closes on September 29th.

Photo by Joshua White/JWPictures.com, courtesy of The Broad

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