A brush with... Hank Willis Thomas

Hank Willis Thomas talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to musicians and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work. Thomas, born in 1976 in Plainfield, New Jersey, is a conceptual artist whose works in various media address identity, collectivity and subjectivity, particularly in relation to race, and how these subjects shape—and are shaped by—broad phenomena, from sports, advertising and brands to art history. Thomas trained as a photographer and a search for a singular powerful image underpins much of his work. But however impactful it might be at first sight, that instant appeal is always a gateway to greater cultural and historical complexity. He discusses his latest exhibition, Kinship of the Soul and its fusion of the paintings of Romare Bearden, Aaron Douglas and Henri Matisse, the early influence of Roy DeCarava’s photographs, the importance of the Gee's Bend quilters, the writing of Audre Lorde and James Baldwin, and his surprising response to the Dukes of Hazzard television show. Plus, he answers our usual questions, including the ultimate: what is art for?

Hank Willis Thomas: Kinship of the Soul, Pace, London, unil 21 December; Irving Penn: Kinship, Curated by Hank Willis Thomas, Pace, New York, until 21 December.

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