Explore Hank Willis Thomas’ largest Southwest exhibition at U of A

Explore Hank Willis Thomas’ exhibition “LOVERULES” at the University of Arizona Museum of Art. It features over 90 conceptual artworks by the renowned artist.

Contemporary art meets social commentary in a groundbreaking exhibition opening at the University of Arizona Museum of Art. The largest showcase of Hank Willis Thomas’ work in the Southwest region brings together 90 pieces that challenge viewers to examine how media and advertising shape our cultural narratives and social values.

Major exhibition explores the intersection of art and social justice

Opening January 18, “LOVERULES, From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation” presents a diverse collection of conceptual art spanning photography, sculpture, and textiles. The exhibition’s title, pronounced “Love Over Rules,” reflects Thomas’ exploration of equality, social history, and cultural representation across various media platforms.

Museum director Olivia Miller explains the exhibition’s core inquiry: “In this show, Thomas is asking what the role of art is in civic life. How does visual culture like advertising create narratives that shape our notion of what is valuable in society? How does advertising affect the way we see each other?”

Transforming commercial imagery into cultural commentary

The exhibition features several of Thomas’ signature series, including “Branded” and “Unbranded: Reflections in Black by Corporate America.” Through these works, Thomas deconstructs sports imagery and advertising to examine how corporate media influences perceptions of African American identity and broader societal values.

The collection comes from renowned art collector Jordan Schnitzer, who shares his enthusiasm: “The first time I saw Hank Willis Thomas’ art, I was overwhelmed by his creative genius. His themes, one image after another, force us to deal with issues that far too long have plagued society by not respecting or accepting each other irrespective of race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.”

Community engagement & educational opportunities

The exhibition will be accompanied by several special events, including a public conversation between Thomas and Schnitzer on February 15. Additional programming includes a student-curated pop-up exhibition and a showcase of local high school student artwork.

Andy Schulz, vice president for the arts and dean of the College of Fine Arts, emphasizes the exhibition’s broader impact: “The arts have a unique ability to encourage peer-to-peer conversation about important issues of our time. I’m thrilled to see ‘LOVERULES’ at UAMA – not only because of its scale and caliber, but because it is an inherently interdisciplinary show that promises relevance and application across campus curricula.”

The exhibition runs through June 21, with media previews available on January 17. Press members interested in viewing the exhibition can contact Chris Weir at [email protected].

Read More Here
Read More Arizona News

This story was generated in part by AI and edited by The Copper Courier staff.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.