I knew what I was doing, but I never really considered the magnitude of how my images were transformative to people. Mickalene Thomas More Quotes by Mickalene Thomas More Quotes From Mickalene Thomas I used to listen to a lot of music in my studio - all the time. But as far as the music that interplays with my work, what I've done and still do is keep a lyric book and song title. The material typically comes from Eartha Kitt, Betty Davis, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston. Mickalene Thomas music work time song My artistic decision to cast my mother's objects into bronze moves beyond the notions of memorializing her. I've been fascinated for some time with the idea of monumentality and what it means to memorialize. Both of these notions are relevant historically, artistically, and culturally. Mickalene Thomas beyond decision mother time 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 museum me painting remember I remember when I first saw Whoopi Goldberg doing standup, and she was wearing a sheet on her head, basically pretending to be this little white girl with long luxurious blonde hair. Everyone can relate to that. It's an oral history of black women's lives through laughter. Mickalene Thomas women black girl history What you put on your wall should be inspiration. Mickalene Thomas your you wall inspiration Once I made the decision to make art despite the obstacles and to make this my priority, things just opened up for me. Mickalene Thomas me obstacles decision art 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 myself me modeling work 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 someone think know you Sometimes I think it's the responsibility of the artist to reveal a little more of themselves. Mickalene Thomas think artist responsibility sometimes 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 great me people art 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 i-am you i-can art What's always intriguing to me is transforming my subjects into a character from another era. Mickalene Thomas me always another character 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 moment you painting time I've always enjoyed film, but I'm a little afraid of it because I think it is very powerful as a medium. You have the visuals, the sound, the colors, all of these things coming at you, and they transport you physically so it becomes this surround sound, virtual reality. Mickalene Thomas think colors you reality
