Mickalene Thomas (1971 –  ), an African American artist from Brooklyn, strives to paint black female identity in  extravagant works of acrylic and rhinestones like this one. Her painted “collages,” somewhat reminiscent of Braque and Picasso, are rich in detail and color. Her compositions focus on the figure as central.

In Portrait of Mnonja, her subject lounges across the width of the frame surrounded by curiosities. The tiger statue, the framed art piece propped on the floor, the stitching on the gold and white cushion add to the majesty of the woman in their midst even as we wonder about her relationship with these things.

Mickalene Thomas seems to have much to share about black female identity here and her creativity seeps through all aspects of this work from setting to arrangement. Wouldn’t you love to have a conversation with this artist about this elegant piece? 

We are grateful for artists who follow their urge to communicate through inventions and variations of doing just that. They push visual vocabulary and expectation to new ways of beauty. We give thanks for their vision, skill and generous work. May they continue and bring us along with them.

In gratitude, faith and hope,

Sandy Prouty
Minister of Children and Families
Montview Church