The Yale University Art Gallery (YUAG) welcomed art enthusiasts and history buffs alike on Friday evening to celebrate the opening of the groundbreaking exhibition, “Mickalene Thomas / Portrait of an Unlikely Space.” Organized by renowned artist Mickalene Thomas ART ’02 and Keely Orgeman, the Seymour H. Knox, Jr., Associate Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Yale University Art Gallery, this exhibition is a unique exploration of pre-Emancipation Era small-scale portraits of African Americans alongside contemporary works in various media.
This marks the second significant event this year honoring Thomas’s contributions to the University, following the unveiling of a mural she designed depicting Pauli Murray LAW ’65 at the eponymous Yale residential college.
The exhibition is notable not only for its remarkable artistry but also for its immersive experience. The YUAG expressed this sentiment in a press release, stating, “With its evocative installation designed by Thomas, the exhibition aims to create an experience of communal belonging for the individuals depicted in the historical objects, the artists whose work is represented in the show, and the visitors engaging with both the past and the present.”
The genesis of this exhibition was inspired by a portrait of Rose Prentice, a formerly enslaved woman (1771–1852), painted by the eminent miniaturist Sarah Goodridge circa 1837-38. Goodridge’s portrait miniature of a Black individual, a rarity in the Gallery’s permanent collection, sparked Keely Orgeman’s curiosity.
Orgeman embarked on a quest to discover similar small-scale early American portraits of Black Americans in various forms, such as silhouettes on paper, frontispiece prints in books, and cased photographs, all dating from the pre-Emancipation period. She recognized the need for an environment that could convey the intimacy and domesticity of these works, leading her to approach Mickalene Thomas.
Thomas, known for her depictions of Black women and ornate domestic interiors, embarked on a years-long professional collaboration with Orgeman to bring this exhibition to life.
The exhibition opening on Friday was celebrated with a reception featuring a performance by Yale University’s undergraduate a capella group, “Shades of Yale,” renowned for singing music of the African diaspora and African American tradition.
Attendees, including Kennedy Anderson ’25, were enthralled by Thomas’s work. Anderson shared, “Meeting her in person at the opening — hugging her, sharing space with an all-time idol and inspiration — was just so insanely cool. I’m still on a high.”
The exhibit seamlessly integrates historical and contemporary works within period-specific furniture and photo collages featuring patterns inspired by textiles sewn by Black women.
Mickalene Thomas shared her vision for the exhibition, stating, “The interiors I have constructed for this exhibition address the same group but of an entirely different generation, those who came of age before slavery was fully abolished in the United States. The sitters [in the historical works] are my muses here. I dedicate this space to them.”
The exhibition also features works by other contemporary artists, including Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter, Sula Bermúdez-Silverman, Lebohang Kganye, Wardell Milan, Adia Millett, Devin N. Morris, Betye Saar, and Curtis Talwst Santiago, all of whom explore the domestic lives of Black communities worldwide.
Tiffany Sprague, Director of Publications at the Yale University Art Gallery, expressed her excitement, saying, “The publications team is especially looking forward to celebrating the related catalog with panel discussions and a book launch on October 26.”
The “Mickalene Thomas / Portrait of an Unlikely Space” exhibition will be open for viewing until January 7, 2024, providing an opportunity for art enthusiasts and history aficionados to immerse themselves in this captivating exploration of African American history and culture.
