MICKALENE THOMAS "SCREEN TEST" SCREENPRINT, 2024Mickalene Thomas (b. 1971) is an American artist exploring the intersection of popular culture and art history, through a contemporary Black female gaze. As an openly gay Black woman, Thomas foregrounds sexuality, race, and representation, reconfiguring the conventions of portraiture to centre Black women as subjects of power, agency, and desire. Thomas frequently creates portraits of Black womenfriends, lovers, and museswho emanate a self possessed

In this intimate but striking example

It addition to its size it is also exceptionally beautiful

and his interest in Italy and atmospheric landscapes

"Green Jacket" conveys his unparalleled ability to capture fleeting moments with clarity

anchoring them to a printed image of the same material and process

Priest as Mummy Jocasta"

His brave color combinations remain remarkably vital and appealing half a century after their creation

for Vogue

or allegorical) reference a range of masters

tradition and time

The Ballad of Sexual Dependency

Or is it simply an abstraction