"The mirror is a powerful tool because it forces you to deal with yourself on a deeper level. Conceptually, paintings are like mirrors. They're an expression from the artist: 'This is how I view the world - I'm presenting it to you."
Early life and education
Born in Camden, New Jersey, in 1971, Mickalene Thomas grew up in a loving and supportive family that encouraged her creative talents from a young age. Her mother, Sandra Bush, was her first muse and a constant source of inspiration. Bush’s strong and fearless spirit was a driving force for Thomas, who would later immortalise her mother in her iconic artworks.
Thomas’s journey in the world of art began when she enrolled at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. She later earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting from the prestigious Yale University School of Art in 2002, and went on to hold several artist residencies, including the Versailles Munn Artists Program in Giverny, France.
Inspiration and influences
Thomas draws inspiration from a wide variety of sources, including art history, popular culture, and her personal experiences. Her artistic influences span across time and disciplines, including the works of Romare Bearden, Henri Matisse, and Edouard Manet.
In addition to her love for art history, Thomas is deeply inspired by the 1970s – an era marked by the Civil Rights Movement, Black Power, and the feminist movement. The bold patterns, colours, and styles of this decade are reflected in her work, evoking a sense of nostalgia and empowering energy.
One of her most recognisable techniques is her use of rhinestones, which add a distinctive sparkle to her paintings. This unique embellishment creates a sense of depth and dimension, drawing the viewer’s eye and inviting them to engage more closely with the work.
Thomas’s devotion to representing the beauty and power of Black women is also shaped by her own experiences as an African-American woman, her mother’s influence, and her admiration for powerful female figures such as Eartha Kitt, Pam Grier, and Grace Jones.
