Mickalene Thomas

American artist Mickalene Thomas has just returned from Paris. She's been busy with her latest exhibition at the city's Grand Palais. After eleven days away from home she's relieved to be back in New York – it's a contradiction we're all familiar with. Travelling is so liberating; it's great to get away, but always good to be reunited with your own bed, your own pillows, and your own space.

On Care

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The conversation is expansive and emotionally alert, moving between geopolitics, everyday details and musings on how we show up in the world. Mickalene opens with honest reflections on what's happening in the US right now, "It's affecting all of us. We can no longer look over there and say, 'that's their problem'. When regimes, ideas or behaviours are allowed to take hold, they seep outwards."

Speaking with total clarity about desensitisation, she comments, "When you start calling people criminals or terrorists, you remove empathy. You remove the human element and compartmentalise them. You don't even realise it at first – it's subtle. It's in the language. And once you do that, you can justify almost anything. When care is gone, that's when things really start to fall apart."

Mickalene's fear in the current climate isn't just about brutality and detachment. She mentions microaggressions and wonders why we are letting the absence of personal responsibility and compassion become normalised. Disappointment, she admits, is her prevailing emotion. "I feel sad that so many people risked their lives to clear a path for us, through culture, literature, art, education – and we've ignored it. But being sad doesn't demobilise me. It just makes me more awake."

"Humanity is about care. Every role matters"

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She is acutely aware of the tension between art's power and its reach. Art can speak to the masses, "But so many people just don't consume it." she says. Asked about access and agency, Mickalene's answer is community. She talks with excitement about grassroots local exhibitions, emerging artists, and the responsibility she feels to engage with younger generations. "They're the ones on the street, They have 'the grit'. They don't have 'the fear' yet. I'm inspired by collectives, by conversations and alternative platforms outside the traditional blue-chip systems."

Fear, she believes, is carefully cultivated. "Take social media. Scrolling is a self-medicated platform. The irony is, I think people believe they're freer than ever, but the opposite is true. Everything is monitored. Everything is collected. Everything is archived. And social media gives you this false sense of participation – like reacting or scrolling is the same thing as positive action. It's not. Sometimes resistance looks like stepping away. Choosing not to perform. Choosing to be intentional about where you put your energy. Resistance looks quieter with fewer posts and less exposure. Switching off as a way of switching on. If you don't have accurate information, you can't make the decisions that are going to lead you in the right direction. That's why education is crucial."

This reclamation of agency extends into time itself. Since turning fifty-five a few days previously, (a milestone she describes as a privilege) Mickalene has been thinking, "What is time and space for me? Not for others. For me." She describes learning this from her partner, Latham Thomas, who works in the maternal and wellness health space. "Watching her move through the world so calmly and deliberately, in her own time – she just moves differently. And still gets great important work done. When women are giving birth, there's the timing, the space and the breathing – all of it is movement." She recounts the birth of her daughter at home, her partner being assisted by a midwife, describing the intimacy and equality of that moment. "She's thirteen now, but when I think back to the day she was born, it was the only way I ever wanted to bring a child into the world." she says. "Humanity is about care. Every role matters. If one part isn't cared for our whole human environment structure suffers."

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It's a philosophy that governs her studio too, which she speaks about as an ecosystem. "Every role matters. I don't care if you're here for two hours, if you're an intern, or if you're working for me full-time. What you're doing is part of the bigger picture. If you don't approach everything you do with care, it affects everything else. It's important to have pride in what you do. If everybody did the best they could, the world would be a much better place."

Toward the end of the conversation, Mickalene recalls spotting a woman wearing a Marfa Stance raincoat while shopping in Paris at the Figaret boutique. With a grin she says, "I recognised it immediately and we walked over to speak to her and ended up having a really good chat. When you see someone else wearing Marfa, it tells you something about the person." She laughs, "It's a bit of a cult! A genuine community. It's a nice way for likeminded adults to recognise one another in the crowd, a Marfa Stance community."

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At the heart of our work is a mission to celebrate and sustain the vibrant tapestry of culture and creativity within our communities. Founded by visionary artist Derrick Adams, whose work is a testament to the beauty of Black joy and resilience, we believe in the transformative power of art and storytelling to bridge generations and inspire change.

The spaces we create and the programs we champion are more than initiatives—they are lifelines. They honor the legacies of those who came before us and nurture the innovators shaping tomorrow. By investing in our efforts, you are fueling a movement that uplifts voices often unheard, preserves invaluable histories and fosters a future where creativity thrives without boundaries.

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Welcome to The Stance. A natural extension of the conversations, places and most importantly, the people who have long shaped the brand. This printed record celebrates our community – and takes a closer look at how the connections we've made have played a part in defining the shape and unique spirit of Marfa Stance.

Across its pages, are stories from our global collective. Long-form interviews with humans whose lives, practices and points of view reflect a shared sensibility, rather than one single aesthetic. United by the way they move through the world with curiosity, creativity, and conviction, these conversations lean into the value of slowing down.

A publication is the original anti-scroll – something permanent you can live with and return to, time after time. Forever evolving with enduring, timeless appeal, The Stance mirrors our approach to clothing. It's an invitation into the Marfa Stance world, their voices, values, and the rhythm of their universe.

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