How has the black female body been idealized and misread in visual culture? How might these tendencies affect black women today? Taking the work of artist Mickalene Thomas as inspiration, noted scholars discuss the issues surrounding the black female body in the context of the canon of art history. Visitors are invited to join the conversation. A tour of the exhibition Mickalene Thomas: Origin of the Universe will precede and follow the discussion at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., and Michaela angela Davis of MAD Free: Liberating Conversations About Our Image, Beauty and Power will host a post-roundtable discussion.



Speakers include:

 
• Deborah “Deb” Willis, contemporary African American artist, photographer, curator, historian, and author; Professor and Chair of the Department of Photography and Imaging at Tisch School of the Arts at New York University
 
• Isolde Brielmaier, Chief Curator of Exhibitions at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD); writer and lecturer on contemporary art
 
• Carla Williams, writer, speaker, and workshop leader; coauthor of The Black Female Body: A Photographic History
 
• Tisa Bryant, writer whose work traverses the boundaries of genre, culture, and history; faculty member at the School of Critical Studies; Interim Faculty Co-Director for Equity and Diversity at CalArts

As space is limited, advance ticket purchase for Museum admission and entrance to the program is recommended via www.museumtix.com. Museum Members receive free admission; please call the Membership Hotline at (718) 501-6326 for reservations.