Mickalene Thomas (b.1971) is an American artist exploring the intersection of popular culture and art history, through a contemporary Black female gaze. As an openly gay Black woman, sexuality and race are essential themes in Thomas' practice.

 "Portrait of a Lovely Six Foota #1" embodies Thomas' intricate collage style and her representation of empowered, poised black women. Recalling Renaissance portraiture, this glamorously bejewelled subject is shown from the chest up.   

Like most of Thomas' portraits, the woman's eyes directly confront the viewers gaze. She is bedazzled in jewellery and a luxurious garment boldly patterned in flaming orange and sparkling silver with voluminous shoulders. The garment's proportions enhance her physical presence and the space her body takes up. Given her muses presentation and the work's title, it seems Thomas intended this subject to stand out as a woman of representation. Blending in is rarely an option for very tall women. This muse has asserted control over her own body and image through it's adornment and enhancement. 

This giclée print is based on a larger-scale collage/painting of the same name from 2007 in which Thomas intricately adorned her painted subject's body, hair, face, and clothes with rhinestones.

Thomas' works can be found in numerous museum's permanent collections; including the Museum of Modern Art (NY), , the Guggenheim (NYC), the Smithsonian American Art Museum (NYC), and the Whitney (NYC) among many others.

Demand for Thomas continues to explode. On May 11, 2021 Thomas' work achieved a new auction record of $1.8 million dollars at Christie's in New York City. 

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"Portrait of a Lovely Six Foota #1"

USA, 2009

Giclée

Signed, dated, and numbered by the artist on verso. 

From an edition of 50

14"H 11"W (work)

Excellent condition

Printed by: Lapis Press

Published by: Santa Monica Museum of Art in collaboration with Mickalene Thomas 

Note: Includes a provenance stamp and Certificate of Authenticity.

This work is sold unframed.