Mickalene Thomas: All About Love (Les Abattoirs, Musée - Frac Occitanie Toulouse)
Les Abattoirs presents Mickalene Thomas: All About Love, the first major exhibition in France dedicated to the pioneering American artist Mickalene Thomas. On view from June 13 through November 9, 2025, this exhibition marks the final stop of an international tour that included The Broad in Los Angeles, The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, and the Hayward Gallery in London. The exhibition showcases over two decades of Thomas's vibrant and multifaceted work, encompassing paintings, collages, photographs, videos, and installations that celebrate Black femininity, power, and love.The title and themes draw inspiration from bell hooks's seminal text, All About Love, emphasizing love as a tool for healing and collective emancipation.
On view from June 13 through November 9, 2025, this exhibition marks the final stop of an international tour that included The Broad in Los Angeles, The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, and the Hayward Gallery in London
Exhibition Description
All About Love offers an unprecedented exploration of Mickalene Thomas's artistic journey, highlighting her commitment to portraying Black women in states of leisure, empowerment, and self-possession. Her opulent portraits, adorned with rhinestones and vibrant patterns, engage in dialogues with canonical works of art history and popular culture, reimagining beauty and desire through a Black feminist lens. The exhibition delves into themes of identity, representation, and intimacy, inviting viewers to consider love as an active process rooted in care and liberation. Thomas's work challenges traditional narratives, positioning Black women at the center of contemporary art discourse.
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Gallery
