Mickalene Thomas: All About Love

Mickalene Thomas is renowned for her large-scale paintings of Black women radically luxuriating and in repose, adorned with vivid patterns and ravishing, brilliant rhinestones, as well as her innovative use of collage techniques.

Thomas’s depictions of women from her circle of friends, family, lovers and models are loving, celebratory and glamorous, with her alluring and self-assured muses exuding comfort and pleasure. Her art is steeped in contemporary feminist literature and the exhibition title pays loving homage to the late American author and activist Bell Hooks.

Featuring paintings, photographs, collages and installations, this vibrant exhibition transforms the concrete brutalism of the Hayward Gallery with brightly coloured bespoke wallpapers, textiles and furnishings nostalgically evoking the artist’s 1970s childhood.

Co-organized by the Hayward Gallery and The Broad, in partnership with the Barnes Foundation, this international touring exhibition comes to London fresh from showing at The Broad in Los Angeles and at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia.

ALSO SHOWING AT HAYWARD GALLERY

Also showing at Hayward Gallery during this period is Danger Came Smiling, a retrospective looking back over 50 years of work by the pioneering feminist artist Linder. A single Hayward Gallery entrance ticket grants access to both exhibitions.

Exhibition talks & discussions

Mickalene Thomas in Conversation with Renée Mussai
Tue 11 Feb at 7pm
Join the artist and writer and curator Renée Mussai, for a discussion about Thomas’ work and its themes of Black female identity.

Afro Goddesses: Mickalene Thomas Panel Discussion
Sun 9 Mar at 2pm
Celebrate International Women’s Day weekend with a discussion of the representation of Black women in All About Love.

2-4-1 Valentine's tickets to the Hayward Gallery

On 14 and 15 February in honour of Valentine's Day the Hayward Gallery has an exclusive offer for online ticket bookings to see their brand new duo of exhibitions Linder: Danger Came Calling and Mickalene Thomas: All About Love (one ticket gets you into both exhibitions). To redeem the two-for-the-price-of-one Valentine's Day ticket offer you need to book online using the code LOVE. Find out more and book here.