「我生活中少數持續不變的事物包括《Jet》雜誌和《Beauty of the Week》週刊,」托馬斯說i。為(重新)創造黑人女性之美,她一直從《Jet》及其附屬出版物《Beauty of the Week》中汲取靈感。作為非裔美國人家庭、沙龍、美容院中的常見刊物,《Jet》 雜誌對黑人社區的再現是無與倫比的——在以白人為主的主流媒體中罕有對黑人社區的關注——對於像托馬斯這樣的人來說,《Beauty of the Week》對她的成長過程至關重要:「......她們穿著泳衣,有點像參加那種選美比賽,然而對我而言,這是第一個美的概念。」ii
托馬斯深受嘉莉·梅·威姆斯影響,這位美國藝術家以專注表現非裔美國人的攝影創作而聞名。托馬斯談及 1994 年邂逅威姆斯的作品時說自己「……深受啟發……恍如遇見自己般不知所措。這是我第一次看到有親切感的影像……這些影像如此淒美、直接,感覺就像在講述我自己的故事。」 iv 托馬斯談及《廚房餐桌》系列的部分作品,討論了再現與被看的情感意義,對這種意義的追求為她的作品提供了濃烈的情感底色。
Glamour and feminism need not be foes, as evinced by the wonderful work of Mickalene Thomas. The artist examines these qualities through the lens of the African-American female experience. Whether with her rhinestone-inflected, '70s-glam-inspired portraits of black beauty and power or her photographic installations of her mother's living room, Thomas personalizes while aestheticizing a visual conversation about race. By tackling classical art historical themes, she writes African-American aesthetics into traditional conventions.
Blockbuster retrospectives at the Brooklyn Museum and ICA Boston thrust Thomas into contemporary art's mainstage. Her platform extends her creative pursuits into fashion, interiors and DJ'ing. Thomas' market has also grown at a steady pace with auction prices increasing each year.