All About Love at The Barnes Foundation

by
from Mickalene Thomas: All About Love Mickalene Thomas. Clarivel Face Forward Gazing, 2024. Acrylic, rhinestones and enamel on wood panel. Courtesy of the artist. © 2024 Mickalene Thomas
  • 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 Mickalene Thomas. Jet Blue #26, 2021. Rhinestones,  fiberglass mesh, acrylic, chalk and oil pastel, mixed media  paper and archival pigment prints on museum paper mounted  on Dibond with a mahogany frame. Private collection. © 2024  Mickalene Thomas
from Mickalene Thomas: All About Love Mickalene Thomas. Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe: Les trois femmes  noires, 2010. Rhinestones, acrylic and enamel on wood panel.  Jean Pierre and Rachel Lehman Collection. © 2024 Mickalene  Thomas

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 Mickalene Thomas. Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe: Les trois femmes  noires, 2010. C-Print. Courtesy of the artist. © 2024  Mickalene Thomas
from Mickalene Thomas: All About Love Mickalene Thomas. La leçon d’amour, 2008. C-Print.  Courtesy of the artist. © 2024 Mickalene Thomas

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 Mickalene Thomas. How Can I Make Sweet Love To You (If  You Won’t Stand Still), 2007. Rhinestone, acrylic, and enamel  on wood panel. From the collection of James Steindecker. ©  2024 Mickalene Thomas
from Mickalene Thomas: All About Love Mickalene Thomas. Whatever You Want, 2004. Rhinestones,  acrylic, and enamel on wood panel. Rubell Museum, Miami. ©  2024 Mickalene Thomas

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 Mickalene Thomas. Afro Goddess Looking Forward, 2015.  Rhinestones, acrylic, and oil on wood panel. Courtesy of the  artist. © 2024 Mickalene Thomas
from Mickalene Thomas: All About Love Mickalene Thomas. I’m Feeling Good, 2014. Rhinestones,  acrylic, oil, and enamel on panel. Private collection. © 2024  Mickalene Thomas


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 1, December 6, January 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 3, December 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 9, December 14, January 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