New York-based artist Mickalene Thomas.

Thomas introduces a complex vision of what it means to be a woman and expands common definitions of beauty. Her work stems from her long study of art history and the classical genres of portraiture, landscape, and still life. Inspired by various sources that range from the 19th century Hudson River School to Édouard Manet, Henri Matisse and Romare Bearden, she continues to explore notions of beauty from a contemporary perspective infused with the more recent influences of popular culture and Pop Art. via Mickalene Thomas

Yayoi Kusama - Photo of Naked Protest at Wall St. 1968.

Called a protest but similar to the regular happenings Kusama held during her early years in New York.

Trailer for the Yayoi Kusama doco in progress, Kusama:Princess of Polka Dots.

This is the first American film to focus on Kusama’s remarkable story. An underdog when she arrived in the U.S. in 1957, her only resource was her determination to succeed. On her first day in New York, Kusama climbed to the top of the Empire State Building, looked down, and made a decision to stand out from everyone she saw below and become a star. Eighteen months later she exhibited a revolutionary series of mural-sized paintings. During her stay in New York, Kusama’s art went from delicate watercolors to meticulous, labor intensive oil paintings to sculptures and installations, and finally to sexually-charged public performance art protesting the Vietnam war and supporting civil rights and free love. Her art prefigured minimalism, pop and feminism. She rivaled Andy Warhol for press attention and the paparazzi dubbed her “The Polka Dot Princess” and “Dotty” due to the dots frequently seen in her work.

You get a sense even in this snippet of how ambitious and playful she was early on, her confidence in being really innovative compared to her peers. Also, groovy 60’s outfits!

Artist Statement - Fujiko Isomura

Growing up in Tokyo, Japan, seeing myself as an individual unique woman was not necessary because blending in with others gains security within the society. Therefore, when I came to America, I realized the existence of “myself” more clearly. Throughout this experience, I began to develop my own ideas of life. “Happiness and harmony in life comes from the recognition of individual differences and the sharing of good hearts and thoughts.” In everyday life, we are influenced by each other without knowing it. This is what my artwork is about.