Monica J. Beasley: Feminism and Magical Thinking

Throughout her career as an artist, Mobile, AL, native Monica Beasley has explored concepts of feminism, femininity, home, marriage, family, race, and Southern culture.

Monica attributes much of her influence to her strong and loving mother and her many cherished aunts—three of the works in this exhibition are titled and dedicated to three of these aunts. She is also influenced by the nkisi of Central Africa, the Hopi Native American tribe, and Haitian spiritual art. Teacher, friend, and well known painter Ed Paschke, as well as artists Ellen Gallagher and Kerry James Marshall have also had tremendous influence on her life and work. In speaking about Paschke’s impact in particular, Monica notes, “He opened my eyes to everything already in the universe. You just have to go look for it, to rethink it, repurpose it, and let it shine in a different way.”

Organized by the Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, Alabama