DIALOGUE OF THE ARTS

Mickalene Thomas’ work explores themes of celebrity, femininity, and power, challenging the male gaze while questioning the predominant canons of art history. She expresses herself through painting and devises collages by mixing printed images, photographs and other material elements, often using iconographies of renowned artists, in order to contest social norms and ideals of feminine beauty over the centuries. Envisioned specifically for this Dior show, her decor epitomizes a new pantheon of women, born out of a conversation dedicated to the importance of black and mixed-race female figures who have become exemplary by choosing to think and act differently.

Giant portraits of a series of exceptional public figures – elaborated with embroidery conceived by the Chanakya Ateliers and Chanakya School of Craft on a printed textile base – take over the show’ s setting. They are a heterogeneous, eclectic group – a source of inspiration on all continents – who have queried the status quo and achieved feats. As well as Joséphine Baker and Nina Simone, they include supermodels Donyale Luna and Naomi Sims, Dorothy Dandridge, the first African-American woman to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, and Hazel Scott, the first African-American woman to have her own television show.

“The inspiration for the creative process developed through conversation about the importance of Black female role models that broke racial barriers by going against the grain and creating a new platform for many others. In choosing these thirteen phenomenal Black women, across continents, the consideration was to research a diverse and eclectic group of women with the odds set against them. In spaces that attempted to reject or impede their success, they persevered with confidence, elegance, beauty and talent. All of these Noir est beau have achieved and accomplished incredible feats that warrant this notable celebration with a brand like Dior.” Mickalene Thomas

^{Noir est beau (Dorothy Dandridge)}

^{Mickalene Thomas (œuvre)}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Dorothy Dandridge}
^{Evening Standard/Hulton Archives/Getty Image (photo 1)}
^{Bettman/Getty Image (photo 2)}

^{Noir est beau (Eartha Kitt)}

^{Mickalene Thomas (œuvre)}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Eartha Kitt}
^{Kenn Duncan/© The New York Public Library/Art Resource, NY (photo 1)}
^{Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images (photo 2)}

^{Noir est beau (Josephine Premice)}

^{Mickalene Thomas (œuvre)}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Josephine Premice}
^{Bettman/Getty Image (photo)}

^{Noir est beau (Nina Simone)}

^{Mickalene Thomas (œuvre)}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Nina Simone}
^{Hulton Archive/Getty Image (photo 1)}
^{Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Image (photo 2)}

^{Noir est beau (Diahann Carroll)}

^{Mickalene Thomas}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Diahann Carroll}
^{Peter Basch, Bash LLC (photo 2)}

^{Noir est beau (Hazel Scott)}

^{Mickalene Thomas (œuvre)}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Hazel Scott}
^{Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Image (photo 1)}
^{Johnson Publishing Company Archive. Courtesy J. Paul Getty Trust and Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.}
^{Made possible by the Ford Foundation, J. Paul Getty Trust, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Smithsonian Institution (photo 2)}

^{Noir est beau (Diahann Carroll)}

^{Mickalene Thomas}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Diahann Carroll}
^{Peter Basch, Bash LLC (photo 2)}

^{Noir est beau (Hazel Scott)}

^{Noir est beau (Donyale Luna)}

^{Mickalene Thomas (œuvre)}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Donyale Luna}
^{Estate Charlotte March/Falckenberg Collection (photo 1)}

^{Noir est beau (Marpessa Dawn)}

^{Michalene Thomas (œuvre)}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Marpessa Dawn}
^{Dispat Films/Tupan Filmes/Photo12}
^{Courtesy of Tigon Film Distributors Limited}

^{Noir est beau (Helen Williams)}

^{Mickalene Thomas (œuvre)}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Helen Williams}

^{Noir est beau (Lena Horne)}

^{Mickalene Thomas (œuvre)}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Lena Horne}
^{Corbis/Getty Image (photo)}

^{Noir est beau (Naomi Sims)}

^{Mickalene Thomas (œuvre)}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Naomi Sims}
^{Photo by Dustin Pittman (photo 2)}

^{Noir est beau (Ophelia DeVore)}

^{Mickalene Thomas (œuvre)}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Ophelia Devore}

^{Noir est beau (Joséphine Baker 1)}

^{Mickalene Thomas (œuvre)}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Joséphine Baker}
^{Hulton Archive/Getty Image (photo)}

^{Noir est beau (Joséphine Baker 2)}

^{Mickalene Thomas (œuvre)}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Joséphine Baker}
^{Hulton Archive/Getty Image (photo)}

^{Noir est beau (Joséphine Baker 3)}

^{Mickalene Thomas (œuvre)}
^{Chanakya (broderies)}
^{Joséphine Baker}
^{Gamma-Keystone/Getty Image}