With photography, you’ve captured a moment time – it’s that moment only – and in painting, you play with it; you manipulate how time is presented. It’s about fantasy and illusion and the creation of desire. Mickalene Thomas Read Quote
The first painting I remember selling was ‘Panthera.’ I made it while I was in residence at the Studio Museum in Harlem, and the museum actually purchased it directly from me. Mickalene Thomas Read Quote
All of my experiences modeling, acting, doing theater, it’s all in the work now. And the work freed me to transform myself. Mickalene Thomas Read Quote
I don’t think an artist should always know why they gravitate toward something or someone. You are just drawn to things, and that’s OK. Mickalene Thomas Read Quote
Sometimes I think it’s the responsibility of the artist to reveal a little more of themselves. Mickalene Thomas Read Quote
There’s a great desire for people to alter themselves, but it’s also the art of transformation. ‘I want a bigger butt; I want bigger boobs.’ The artifice interests me – how we’re capable of altering ourselves. There’s a creative element that’s very intriguing. Mickalene Thomas Read Quote
Beauty has always been an element of discussion for black women, whether or not we were the ones having the conversation. Mickalene Thomas Read Quote
You know, the emotion – it comes in my art. The kind of person I am, I can deal with things, and I do and I can, but I’m not a crier. Mickalene Thomas Read Quote
I started making art with art therapy. It’s what I know how to do. I got a lot of criticism for that when I was in school. But I think it works for me. Mickalene Thomas Read Quote
