All About Love at The Barnes Foundation

  • Mickalene Thomas: All About Love
  • Hardcover; 224 pages
  • At The Barnes Foundation Philadelphia

Mickalene Thomas’s book confirms her status as a key figure of contemporary art. It features notable works arranged in thematic chapters, an interview with the artist by Hayward Gallery chief curator Rachel Thomas, and essays by scholars and curators that cover Thomas’s distinct visual vocabulary, drawing on themes of love and intergenerational female empowerment as well as tenets of Black feminist theory. 

from Mickalene Thomas: All About Love
from Mickalene Thomas: All About Love

Mickalene Thomas: All About Love is a groundbreaking international exhibition dedicated to the influential artist Mickalene Thomas, showcasing her vibrant and multifaceted body of work. Co-organized by the Hayward Gallery in London and The Broad in Los Angeles, the tour highlights Thomas’s artistic journey from the late 2000s to the present, featuring a diverse array of mediums including paintings, collages, photography, and video installations.

from Mickalene Thomas: All About Love
from Mickalene Thomas: All About Love

The showing at The Barnes Foundation is particularly noteworthy, as it emphasizes Thomas’s unique ability to intertwine elements of 19th-century art with contemporary culture. Her artworks are renowned for their striking large-scale painted tableaux adorned with rhinestones, alongside bold and intimate compositions that celebrate Black femininity. Through her work, Thomas creates a rich tapestry of visual pleasure, agency, and kinship, often engaging in dialogue with canonical art while also reflecting on popular culture.

from Mickalene Thomas: All About Love
from Mickalene Thomas: All About Love

Her portraits present a powerful vision of beauty and desire, all seen through a sensual, Black feminist perspective. This exhibition not only honors her contributions to contemporary art but also invites viewers to explore themes of empowerment and identity in innovative ways.

from Mickalene Thomas: All About Love
from Mickalene Thomas: All About Love


Exhibition Tours: All About Love
Daily, 1 pm
Take an in-depth exhibition tour to learn more about Thomas’s work and practice.

Private Exhibition Tours: All About Love
Daily
Book a private exhibition tour for up to eight guests to learn more about Thomas’s work and practice.

Members-Only Gallery Tours: All About Love
Thursdays, 2–3 pm
Members are invited to attend exclusive exhibition tours

First Friday
November 1December 6January 3; 6–9 pm
Enjoy an evening of art, live music, and light fare on the first Friday of each month, with access to the collection and All About Love. Our November event features saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins; Yolanda Wisher & the Afroeaters perform in December and R&B singer Black Buttafly in January.

PECO Free First Sunday Family Day
November 3December 1, January 5; 10 am–5 pm
On the first Sunday of every month, the Barnes partners with PECO to offer a free day of family fun. Along with art making, educational activities, and featured performances, the event includes complimentary access to the Barnes collection and All About Love.

All About Love: Second Saturday Film Series
November 9December 14January 11; 2 pm
Join us for a special three-part film series inspired by All About Love. Curated by BlackStar Film Festival founder Maori Karmael Holmes, this program includes feature-length and short films that explore themes of kinship, femininity, and desire. More information coming soon.

Young Professionals Night: All About Love
Friday, November 15, 7–11 pm
It’s time to shine! This fall’s edition of Barnes Young Professionals Night celebrates the emerging creatives who fuel Philly’s vibrant cultural scene and includes access to All About Love

Location
The Barnes Foundation
2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
215.278.7000

Hours
Thu–Mon: 11am – 5pm
Members: 10am – 5pm
Closed July 4, Thanksgiving, and Christmas