Mickalene Thomas: All About Love

Mickalene Thomas is celebrated for her bold, rhinestone-adorned portraits that center Black women while reimagining beauty, identity, and art history. Published to accompany her major exhibition at The Broad, this richly illustrated monograph explores the artist's influential career through vibrant works inspired by everything from classical painting to contemporary culture. Taking its title from bell hooks' All About Love, the book examines themes of self-expression, memory, joy, and Black feminist thought, revealing how Thomas challenges traditional ideas of representation while creating powerful images of confidence, rest, and agency. Featuring an in-depth conversation with the artist alongside insightful essays, this volume is an essential addition for readers interested in Mickalene Thomas, Black portraiture, feminist art, and contemporary museum exhibitions.

About the Artist:

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. Thomas was nominated TIME's 100 Most Influential People of 2025.

Hardcover / 224 pages

Dimensions: 9" x 11.5"

Organized by the Brooklyn Museum, Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys brings together monumental contemporary art and historic masterworks from the personal collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys. On view from September 19, 2026 – February 28, 2027 at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, this landmark exhibition explores Black identity, creativity, power, and cultural legacy through the work of some of today's most influential artists. Learn More