Hank Willis Thomas is a young visual artist who is known for his art related to the themes of race, advertising, and popular culture. Thomas, originally from New Jersey from a very artistic family, is currently a DuBois Institute Fellow at Harvard University. He is known for asking thought-provoking questions in person. His exhibit at the Weatherspoon, entitled Unbranded: A Century of White Women 1915- 2015, challenges us to think both subjectively and objectively about white women as they are portrayed in advertising. In the above photo, he is asking a capacity crowd of UNCG students questions about perceptions of their personal identity. 

(Edited for accuracy based on Loring Mortensen’s comments)…

Mr. Thomas’s talk and his exhibition were brought to UNCG as part of the Weatherspoon Art Museum and UNCG Art Department’s Falk Visiting Artist series (which happens twice each year). The exhibition and lecture are made possible in part by UNCG’s Performing Arts Series; Fabric of Freedom, an arts program of the National Folk Festival; and the Humanities Working Groups for Community Impact Initiative, a project of the National Humanities Alliance Foundation supported by the Whiting Foundation. Hank’s talk and exhibition are listed as a part of ArtsGreensboro and 17 Days Greensboro promotional calendar of things happening in September. 

Mr. Thomas’s art will be at the Weatherspoon until December 16th. Try to get by to see it!