Hank Willis Thomas

Artist Hank Willis Thomas Inspires Change, Joins Board at Crystal Bridges

For over 20 years, conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas has used photography, sculpture, and images from sports, advertising, and history to examine popular culture and show how art can raise awareness in the ongoing struggle for social justice and civil rights.

In early 2020, Crystal Bridges hosted the artist’s first comprehensive survey: Hank Willis Thomas: All Things Being Equal…, organized by the Portland Art Museum, Oregon. In the midst of adversity and an energized movement to end racism and police brutality, Thomas’s exhibition brought a fresh perspective, a call to action, and a message of hope and love to its viewers at Crystal Bridges.

The week before the exhibition’s opening, Thomas, along with his mother Deborah Willis, who is an artist, photographer, and MacArthur Genius, and a host of other family members and artist collaborators, came to the museum for a director’s reception, exhibition preview, and opening lecture.

“Having Hank at the museum was like a dream,” said Allison Glenn, associate curator, contemporary art at Crystal Bridges and in-house curator of All Things Being Equal… “At this point, Hank is like family. We’ve known each other for over 10 years and have worked on projects in Chicago and New Orleans. Being able to host him, his friends, and family felt warm, grounding, and reinforced the feeling of connection to the larger art world that visiting artists provide to our museum and community.”

When quarantine hit Northwest Arkansas in March, the museum did not want the closure to become a barrier to experiencing art, so images of the exhibition became available on the museum’s website. Glenn also filmed a curator walkthrough of the show which was posted on the museum’s YouTube channel.

In the summer, as Black Lives Matter protests rose in the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade, Crystal Bridges released a statement online and on social media channels supporting Black Lives Matter and Black art, and declaring a commitment to change. Internally, training and resources are being offered to staff as Crystal Bridges and the Momentary work actively to become antiracist institutions. The museum is also continuing to offer programs that spark conversations about art, equity, and justice.

Thomas continues to produce art that speaks to community and social justice, reaffirming that his work has always been focused on how art can inspire change. 25,000 exhibition visitors

Visitors described the exhibition as “meaningful” and “the conversation we should have.”

All Things Being Equal… welcomed more than 25,000 visitors to the exhibition space before and after quarantine, with many more viewing the works online. Visitor feedback was positive, and concluded that the exhibition was “very interactive and moving,” “meaningful,” and “the conversation we should have.” Evaluation results show that this exhibition introduced many visitors to Hank Willis Thomas for the first time and achieved its goal of inspiring the public to reflect on struggles for equal rights across the globe, as well as the power of art and photography. “For many colleagues and our larger museum community, this was the first time that they were exposed to Hank’s work and message,” said Glenn. “To be able to include over 20 years of his creative output all together in one expansive set of galleries was a wonderful opportunity.”

To quote the artist—a quote that became the tagline of his exhibition, “The most revolutionary thing a person can do is be open to change.”

Hank Willis Thomas Joins Crystal Bridges Board

Thomas has become the newest addition to the Board of Directors and will be an integral voice in the direction and vision of the museum. The questions and perspectives Thomas brought to life in this exhibition will continue to serve as inspiration for community engagement and change in Northwest Arkansas and beyond.

Special thanks to the exhibition’s sponsors: Phillips, Esther SilverParker, Deborah Wright, Arkansas Humanities Council, Walmart AAOC, and Kate & Greg Schaffer. This project is supported in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Meet Our Board of Directors

Alice Walton

Founder and Chairwoman

Rick Chapman

Walton Enterprises, LLC Retired

Elizabeth Glassman

Terra Foundation for American Art Former President and CEO

Thelma Golden

The Studio Museum Director and Chief Curator

Doug McMillon

Walmart Inc. President and CEO

Hank Willis Thomas

Artist Co-Founder, For Freedoms

John H. Tyson

Tyson Foods, Inc. Board of Directors Chairman

Olivia Walton

Heartland Summit, Co-Founder Founding Chairperson of the Momentary Council

Steuart Walton

Game Composites, Ltd.

John Wilmerding

Princeton University Art Museum Professor Emeritus of American Art & Adjunct Curator