Hank Willis Thomas

Hank Willis Thomas is a conceptual artist based in New York. Focused on identity, race, and popular culture, he works in sculptures, photography, mixed media, and public installations. Hank’s art has been exhibited in museums around the world, from New York to Spain to Paris to Hong Kong. He’s the recipient of the Gordon Parks Foundation Fellowship and the Guggenheim fellowship. Learn more about him and his work here.

Below is a guided visual companion to this conversation with Hank. 


1. An excerpt from Black Is…Black Ain’t by Marlon Riggs (7:19)

2. Central Park Five (12:41)

3. Hank Willis Thomas, I Am A Man, 2009 (13:43)

© Hank Willis Thomas. Courtesy of Hank Willis Thomas and Jack Shaiman Gallery.

4. Hank Willis Thomas, Raise Up, 2014 (15:16)

© Hank Willis Thomas. Courtesy of Hank Willis Thomas and Jack Shaiman Gallery.

5. Hank Willis Thomas, Love Over Rules, 2017 (16:21)

© Hank Willis Thomas. Courtesy of Mariah Tiffany

6. Hank Willis Thomas, Every Act Is Political (Daniel Buren), 2016 (18:16)

© Hank Willis Thomas. Courtesy of Hank Willis Thomas and Jack Shaiman Gallery.

7. Hank Willis Thomas, Priceless, 2005 (20:39)

© Hank Willis Thomas. Courtesy of Hank Willis Thomas and Jack Shaiman Gallery.

8. Hank Willis Thomas, A Place to Call Home, 2009 (25:49)

© Hank Willis Thomas. Courtesy of Hank Willis Thomas and Jack Shaiman Gallery.

9. For Freedoms, Make America Great Again, 2016 (26:44)

© Hank Willis Thomas. Courtesy of Hank Willis Thomas and Eric Gottesman.

10. Hank Willis Thomas, All Power to All People, 2017 (27:57)

© Hank Willis Thomas. Courtesy of Steve Weinik.


Show-notes:

  • To learn more about Hank Willis Thomas, visit his site.
  • Follow him on IG.
  • You can watch Black Is, Black Ain’t by Marlon Riggs here.
  • Learn more about the Black Visions Collective and donate here.
  • Learn more about the North Star Health Collective and donate here.

Illustrations by: Krishna Shenoi.

Music by: Dylan Peck and Jinsang.

Subscribe on: Apple Music, Spotify, Stitcher. 


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