Photo By Gail
Mickalene Thomas‘s glittering, maximalist paintings of Black women, such as this work from 2012, investigate how Black femininity, sexuality, and empowerment are represented in visual culture. She draws inspiration from popular culture, music, and Western art history, while embodying the aesthetic of the 1970s with embroidered rhinestones and bold patterns.
Portrait of Qusuquzah #6 depicts one of the artist’s frequent models embodying the glamour of Black women in the 1940s. The subject assumes a central, dynamic position, commanding undivided attention.
Photographed in The Brooklyn Museum as Part of the 2024 Exhibit Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys
I’m relatively confident that Qusuquzah is a transgender model that Mickalene Thomas uses regularly. Pronounced Koo-Soo-Koo-Zah perhaps? I like this particular piece of art.
Hi Jonathan You are correct that Mickalene works with this model on the regular, thus the #6 in the portrait title! Thanks for the comment! — G