REVIEW: Mickalene Thomas at Grand Palais, Paris

While we began with high expectations for Mickalene Thomas’s exhibition titled “All About Love” at the newly renovated Grand Palais—which is aesthetically very pleasing but presents various practical problems—we suddenly found ourselves feeling awkward in front of a large, spectacle-driven show. Many elements seemed drawn both from pop art artists and from contemporary figures, such as the installations with plant pots that recalled Rashid Johnson.

The artist’s anxiety to address both social issues and questions of identity is evident; however, her mode of approach and execution—especially the abundance of materials she employs, from fabrics and photographs to plants, furniture, and so on—creates an excessive, overflowing atmosphere. This tends to confuse the viewer, even the most perceptive one, rather than communicate clear messages.

And while the exhibition raises questions that are indeed embedded at its core, within this pluralism and multicolored display they not only remain unanswered, but at times resemble a poorly written pulp novel.

Efi Michalarou

Photo: Mickalene Thomas, All About Love, Exhibition view, Grand Palais-Paris, 2026, Photo: © & Courtesy Efi Michalarou

Info: Grand Palais, Square Jean Perrin – 17 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, Paris, France, Duration: 17/12/2025-5/4/2026, Days & Hours: Tue-Thu & Sat-Sun 10:00-19:30, Fri 10:00-22:00, www.grandpalais.fr/