Mickalene Thomas
Ain’t I A Woman – Fran
2019
Mickalene Thomas’ mixed-media work interrogates the layered representation of Black women in Western visual culture.
Her featured piece examines how Black femininity is framed
through the lens of media and desire.
A subtle male presence in the composition evokes the persistent influence of the male gaze, positioning the Black female subject as seen rather than self-defined. Despite the figure’s complex expression, she is still expected to appear joyous and desirable. Thomas invites us to question these imposed dynamics and reimagine how Black women are allowed to appear on screen.