Mickalene Thomas Quotes

• We all have some flaws. But when I have a moment of doubt, I find inspiration from being in the moment, by letting go. I don't hold onto what I can't control. Doubt is a fleeting emotion that can destroy you if you allow it to consume your mind and spirit. Each person's time comes at variant phases, and the best you can do is enjoy what you're doing and work hard. It can't always be about you. Life is transformation - the wind blows, climate changes, birds chirp and trees burn. Where you are today is not where you will be tomorrow. The only person you can be is you.

  Mickalene Thomas

  Letting Go, Inspiration, Hard Work

  8 Copy quote

• Here I am, the artist, the person, the black woman, and the stereotype. I'm using myself and it has nothing to do with my muses or other women. It has to do with me. You see parts of my body moving, very collage like, flashing, and not speaking, just laying on a couch, looking out at the viewer.

  Mickalene Thomas

  Moving, Artist, Here I Am

  Source: www.interviewmagazine.com

  19 Copy quote

• I think what I have done is claimed the space and pushed it forward as much as I can in relationship to who I am and how I live my life.

  Mickalene Thomas

  Thinking, Who I Am, Space

  Source: www.interviewmagazine.com

  14 Copy quote

• Beauty has always been an ​element of discussion for black women, whether or not we were the ones having the conversation​. Out of necessity, black women have always had to consider others' perceptions of a certain beauty ideal, just starting with the skin color.

  Mickalene Thomas

  Black, Perception, Skins

  Source: www.interviewmagazine.com

  11 Copy quote

• I knew what I was doing, but I never really considered the magnitude of how my images were transformative to people.

  Mickalene Thomas

  People, Magnitude

  Source: www.interviewmagazine.com

  8 Copy quote

• Beauty was so heavily important in my family, something I had to contend with. All those experiences allow me to make what I'm making today. I grew up with that. There's a reason why I express that in my art. I'm trying to figure it out myself.

  Mickalene Thomas

  Art, Important, Trying

  Source: www.interviewmagazine.com

  4 Copy quote

• I love knowing and learning about people around the world displaying my art online. Also, it's how I learn about new artists that are in various parts of the world. The positive thing about Tumblr and Instagram is that they're a fantastic platform for art lovers. I also like, when I search for my art and it says, "see also or related artists," and I see those other artists that relate to me, at least according to the internet. I think it's fascinating - it's interesting to see hashtags people are using in relation to my work. It's another tool of communication.

  Mickalene Thomas

  Art, Communication, Thinking

  4 Copy quote

• I grew up with a lot of brothers and I don't have any sisters, so for me it's really important to develop my sisterhood. It's something I've always coveted.

  Mickalene Thomas

  Brother, Sisterhood, Important

  Source: www.interviewmagazine.com

  7 Copy quote

• I'm using the grid as formation. I wanted a relationship between the paintings and videos so that way when you are looking at the videos there's a direct relationship to the paintings.

  Mickalene Thomas

  Video, Way, Painting

  Source: www.interviewmagazine.com

  9 Copy quote

• Hotels are amazing spaces and platform for activism. If they placed voting booths in hotels and other space of hospitality - a lot more people would vote. Voting poll stations aren't easily accessible. These phone booths should be in more hotels and public spaces. Activism is accessibility. Bravo to the Standard for making it possible.

  Mickalene Thomas

  People, Voting, Vote

  4 Copy quote

• I got really excited about finding new ways of using video, and the immediacy is different, in a way, than painting and photography. The creativity comes with the editing. You can layer and cut and paste. I really love that it's like another form of making my smaller collages but in video form.

  Mickalene Thomas

  Photography, Creativity, Cutting

  Source: www.interviewmagazine.com

  4 Copy quote

• facebook
• twitter
• googleplus
• email
• linkedin