An exquisite monograph detailing Thomas' lively and opulent rhinestone-embellished artworks.

Discover the expansive body of work by New York-based artist Mickalene Thomas, encompassing mediums such as painting, collage, print, photography, video, and immersive installations. Thomas draws inspiration from a wide range of influences, including 19th-century art and popular culture, to craft a powerful and empowering vision of womanhood. In this luxurious publication, Thomas is celebrated as a prominent figure in contemporary art. Highlighted works are thoughtfully arranged into themed sections, and the book features an insightful interview with the artist conducted by Rachel Thomas. Essays by esteemed writers Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Darnell L. Moore, Claudia Rankine, Ed Schad, Renée Mussai, and Christine Y. Kim delve into Thomas' unique visual language and themes of female empowerment, autobiography, memory, and Black feminist theory. Through her art, Thomas challenges traditional norms of beauty, sexuality, and politics, reclaiming the concepts of relaxation and leisure as radical acts of self-expression and joy.

Mickalene Thomas (born 1971) is an international, award-winning, multidisciplinary artist whose work has yielded instantly recognizable and widely celebrated aesthetic languages within contemporary visual culture. She is known for her elaborate portraits of Black women composed of rhinestones, acrylic and enamel.