FEATURED OBJECT

Mickalene Thomas (b. 1971)

Interior: Fireplace with Blackbird

Thomas is a contemporary artist best known for her vibrant portraits that celebrate black women.  Her aesthetic also is influenced by 1970s patterns and interior spaces from her childhood in Camden, New Jersey.

In creating this image, Thomas referenced The Practical Encyclopedia of Good Decorating and Home Improvement, an 18-volume book set from the early 1970s that instructs readers how to design and care for domestic spaces.  The artist enhanced these found images with her own color palette, motifs, and textures.

The fragmented design of this print is made by collaging elements, each of which was individually printed and adhered to the surface.  Thomas collaborated with Durham Press in Pennsylvania to create this effect.  The collaged elements demonstrate a range of processes, including screenprint, woodblock, wood veneer, etching, flocking, gold leaf, and digital printing.

Thomas has linked her interest in interior spaces to both landscape and portraiture traditions. Her collaged arrangements layer together different perspectives to create complex spatial relationships. The print includes natural elements, including the greenery visible through the windows and the representation of the bird over the fireplace.  This may give the impression of the outside coming in, or of barriers crossed.

In many homes, a living room is a space that is both public and private.  It is where the family gathers in the evening, but also where they entertain guests.  It can be a curated space that portrays personal identity. Thomas said of her Interiors series, “Oftentimes the interior landscape is created as a sort of mask. A way of not only hiding what is beneath the surface, but also of projecting an image of beauty, power, or elegance.”[*]

Discussion questions: What can you tell about the people who live in this home based on the objects and patterns on view?  How have you intentionally curated your own home to reflect key elements of your identity?

[*] Quote included in the Art Basel 2019 catalog entry on Mickalene Thomas from Durham Press.