Muse: Mickalene Thomas Photographs and tête-à-tête

Muse: Mickalene Thomas Photographs and tête-à-tête

Held in conjunction with the FotoFocus Biennial. The exhibition is organized by Aperture Foundation, New York.

Mickalene Thomas’ photographic work functions as a personal act of deconstruction and reappropriation - both of images she has created herself and images she has singled out as influential. With each series, she grapples with and asserts new definitions of beauty and inspiration. Thomas’ portraits draw equally from 1970s black-is-beautiful images of women, such as supermodel Beverly Johnson and actress Vonetta McGee; the 19th-century French painter Édouard Manet’s odalisque figures; and the mise-en-scène studio portraiture of James Van Der Zee and Malick Sidibé, to mention a few. This collection of portraits and staged scenes reflects a very personal community of inspiration as well - a collection of muses that includes Thomas herself, her mother, and her friends and lovers, emphasizing the communal and social aspects of art-making and creativity that pervade her work.

The idea of communities of inspiration will be further carried out via the companion exhibition tête-à-tête, an installation curated by Mickalene Thomas of work from photographers and key images which have inspired her. Artists in tête-à-tête include Derrick Adams, Renée Cox, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Lyle Ashton Harris, Deana Lawson, Zanele Muholi, Malick Sidibé, Xaviera Simmons, Hank Willis Thomas, and Carrie Mae Weems.

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Dayton Art Institute

Muse: Mickalene Thomas Photographs and tête-à-tête is taking place at Dayton Art Institute, which is located at 456 Belmonte Park North in Dayton. Dayton Art Institute - Committed to enriching the community by creating meaningful experiences with art that are available to all. Visit us often to enjoy our diverse collections, world class exhibits and more.