Museum Tour: The Female Form

Ticket Rules & Pricing

About the Exhibition

From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation, The Female Form explores how two influential artists, Tom Wesselmann and Mickalene Thomas, have portrayed the female nude and challenged its place in art history. This exhibition brings together different generations and perspectives to reflect on how women’s bodies are represented in visual culture.

Tom Wesselmann created iconic images of the female form during the 1960s and 1970s, a time of cultural change and evolving attitudes around gender and sexuality. His work captures the contradictions of the era, blending glamour with critique and offering complex reflections on beauty, desire, and control.

Mickalene Thomas brings a powerful perspective to the tradition of the nude. A queer Black woman, Thomas represents Black women with strength, beauty, and self-assurance. Her work invites viewers to see these women not as objects, but as confident subjects who hold their own space and agency. Using rhinestones, vibrant color, and layered materials, she draws inspiration from art history and pop culture to celebrate the individuality and presence of her sitters.

This exhibition places both artists in conversation with a broader legacy of female representation, from Renaissance paintings to modern reinterpretations. It also includes historical references and lesser-known works by women artists, encouraging deeper reflection on who is depicted, how, and why.