Tschabalala Self redefines the concept of painting as an art form.
The latest exhibition by Mickalene Thomas dubbed "Around the Way" is now on display at the Espoo Museum of Modern Art in Finland. This is where her pride for her heritage is most evident, as she finds great inspiration in her Harlem roots. The title of the show is a reference to the way of speaking in Black American slang that's used to describe someone from the neighborhood. When she spoke to CNN, she expressed the deep connection to her community through her art, highlighting architectural elements like the brownstone bricks and even including familiar faces from her personal life.
Thomas is a multidisciplinary artist who's interested in using sewn fabric and printmaking techniques to create art featuring fuller-figured Black women. Explaining herself, she said, "The Black female body is my visual language, my visual aesthetic. That's my muse." Her work has been exhibited at numerous institutions like MoMA PS1 in New York City, LA's Hammer Museum, and London's Parasol unit. She's also made a name for herself by showcasing her art in galleries based in Harlem.
From her signature techniques of appliqué to her work on canvas, she's been pushing the boundaries of what painting can be. She shared with CNN, "It's a way to think about new and innovative ways to approach painting... I describe it more as assemblage because the fabric is so dimensional." Highlighting her method of using various fabrics sewn onto a stretched canvas, she added, "I have hundreds of bits and scraps of fabrics... It's basically an accumulation of all my different fragmented memories or impressions from individuals that I knew well, or that I just happened upon."
One such piece in the new show titled "Anthurium" is a visual tribute to the theme of domesticity that has played a major role in her past work. Through the use of sewn, painted, and printed elements, the piece depicts a scene of coziness that Thomas' audience has come to expect from her. Of the piece, she said, "Through the formal aspects of my work, I'm able to address my central conceptual concern that one's identity is really the sum of many parts. Some of these parts are inherent, but others are projected and collected."
Thomas has been investigating the idea of home and the emotional significance attached to it, drawing upon both real and imagined domestic spaces. Reflecting on her own move from her childhood home to upstate New York, she told CNN, "I think that the home is an actual site, but it also occupies an emotional and psychological space in people's minds. It's symbolic of something other than what it really is in reality, and those are the kind of environments I like to explore in my artwork."
Thomas' work not only questions the concept of home, but also celebrates the Black female body as a space of belonging and self-care. Her characters undoubtedly embody a sense of confidence and presence in their surroundings. When discussing her depiction of Black women, she explained, "It was an instinct for me, but my research into the Rubenesque figure helped clarify my intentions." By highlighting the abundance of life and self-assuredness represented by Rubenesque figures, her artworks reflect her own values.
Mickalene Thomas continues to challenge the traditional western canon of painting in her latest work. Her piece "Lady in Blue", commissioned for London's Fourth Plinth, will be a bronze statue of a Black woman in movement adorned in a dazzling blue dress. Speaking about her choice of color, she stated, "A lot of classical paintings have used lapis lazuli to denote a sense of honor and prestige to a revered figure. I wanted to use this color... to bestow that same significance." This is a fitting representation of a Black woman who is both empowered and titled among the elite – an important step towards inclusivity in public art.
However, the commission goes beyond just the sculpture's identity or physicality, the artist noted. "It's about having a figure that can communicate with both the past and the future," she said. "And a Black woman figure seems perfect for this role, considering various cultural and historical factors. The 'Lady in Blue' can be viewed as a historic mother, but also as a representation of our shared future."
Tschabalala Self's Around the Way will be on display at EMMA–Espoo Museum of Modern Art from May 8, 2024, to May 5, 2025 as part of the In Collection exhibition series, in partnership with the Saastamoinen Foundation.
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Mickalene Thomas' art style is a fusion of sewn fabric and printmaking techniques, creating vibrant pieces that celebrate fuller-figured Black women.Her latest exhibition, "Around the Way", showcases her love for her heritage and Harlem roots, subtly incorporating art elements inspired by her community.
