Installation view, Mickalene Thomas: A Moment's Pleasure © Mickalene Thomas
Mickalene Thomas: A Moment's Pleasure
November 24, 2019 — May 29, 2022
Mickalene Thomas' immersive two-story installation transforms the BMA's East Lobby into a living room for Baltimore reflective of Thomas' signature aesthetic influenced by 1970s and 1980s motifs. The experience–the most expansive commission undertaken by both the artist and the BMA—extends onto an enclosed terrace, where Thomas has curated a presentation of works by artists with ties to Baltimore. Featured artists include: Derrick Adams, Zoë Charlton Theresa Chromati, Alex Dukes, Dominiqua S. Eldridge, Devin N. Morris, Clifford Owens, and D'Metrius John Rice.
Mickalene Thomas: A Moment's Pleasure is the inaugural Robert E. Meyerhoff and Rheda Becker Biennial Commission that puts Baltimore in the elite circle of Thomas' past subjects, including Oprah Winfrey, Condoleezza Rice, and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Thomas' photography, collages, and paintings—such as Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe in the BMA's collection—often draw from iconic images in Western art history and pop culture to create a contemporary vision of female sexuality, beauty, and power.