Mickalene Thomas b. 1971, USA

For the third edition of “Lady Dior Art”, the house entrusted its iconic bag to eleven renowned artists. At the request of Maria Grazia Chiuri, 11 women have been invited to collaborate with the fashion house, a continuation of her feminist message that she conveys through her collections.

UA Little Rock gallery director Brad Cushman pulled together 50 works by some of America’s finest black artists — including Bannister, Duncanson, Porter and Tanner — for a show that celebrates the work of fine artists who share an affinity born of life experience.

The Lady Dior bag is not only iconic, but also the tangible trophy of this intersection of women and success in modern art and fashion. As any bag should be, Lady Dior is an aspect of identity, as each artistic ornamentation is stitched with passion and fosters new growth within fashion. Now, following the pre-launch in Miami last December we are blessed by the Third Edition of Dior Lady Art which will feature collaborations with eleven of the best artists from around the globe- all female, all badass and all reinterpreting the art of Dior. One of these paragon’s of female artistry is Mickalene Thomas who uses her absurdly artistic abilities to tackle social issues involving race, gender and sexuality. Her work is complex, using multiple mediums of art including rhinestones and acrylic to paint portraits of Western Art History and all those involved. With her work on this installation of Dior Lady Art, it is no surprise that she will yet again explore representations of black female identity and create masterpieces that seamlessly connect femininity and true power. There is no limit of excellence in Dior Lady Art, and the bags crafted shall remind all women that there is no limit to their own excellence. Watch the video below to see how Thomas grabs the industry by the shoulders and shakes all misconceptions away, further proving the strength of women and their craft.

Kavi Gupta is happy to announce Woman with a Camera, a group exhibition featuring works by Mickalene Thomas at the MCA Chicago. Woman with a Camera presents photographs by 14 women artists who come from a diverse set of backgrounds and generations, and address various artistic concerns.

We are pleased to announce Mickalene Thomas’ inclusion in Art Basel Unlimited. Thomas will be presenting a “unique edition” of Do I Look Like a Lady? (Comedians and Singers), 2016. The work presents a piercing, moving, and at times uproarious portrait of the diverse expressions of womanhood, building on ongoing reconsideration of black female identity. For more information click, here.

Kavi Gupta is pleased to announce Mickalene Thomas: Mentors, Muses, and Celebrities a solo exhibition by Mickalene Thomas at The Spelman College of Museum of Fine Art. The exhibition, previously on view at Aspen Art Museum, features photographs, films, and video. The exhibition will be on view from February 9 – May 20, 2017. For more information click here.

Kavi Gupta is delighted to announce Mickalene Thomas: Waiting On a Prime-Time Star, a new solo exhibition at Newcomb Art Museum at Tulane University. The exhibition brings together more than 40 works including paintings, photographs, collages, sculptures, film, and a site-specific installation that broadly engage the subject of portraiture through an interplay of different media. The exhibition will be on view from January 18 – April 9, 2017.