PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Portrait of an Unlikely Space is a curated show by artist Mickalene Thomas and Curator Keely Orgeman, comparing and contrasting early American portraits of Black women, men, and children—aside contemporary Black works. Her installation incorporates period-specific textile patterns and decorative elements to create a homelike environment reminiscent of the pre-Emancipation era. The publication and exhibition were designed together in tandem, as the images express later in the book.

The cover’s texture is velvet, to mimic the protective interior of a daguerreotype—bringing that which is precious forward. The gold foil stamp and ornament, used throughout the publication, shine to the richness of these works, as do the endpapers, giving the experience of opening a miniature portrait.

The New England primer, a publication that taught school children to read in the early 18th century, was the basis for the book’s size. As people of color were enslaved and not educated, we added 2in to the margin to give space to those marginalized. Images and captions push into the dialogue taking up space, showing the self-reliance and strength of the enslaved. The portraits themselves are backed with rich color to mimic a photo album.

The publication utilizes a fifth color, Mickalene’s “espresso black.” The only white in the whole publication is the ‘unlikely space’ of the title page. All other tones are a draw of that fifth plate. The work is typeset in William Text by Maria Doreuli.

BOOK INFORMATION

Trim Size: 8.1 x 9.5 in

Number of Pages: 112

Binding Method:

Paper:

Typefaces: William Text by Maria Doreuli at Typotheque

CREDIT INFORMATION

Creative Director: Brian Johnson and Silas Munro

Art Director:

Book Designer: Brian Johnson, Silas Munro, Michelle Lamb, Randa Hadi, Ashna Shah

Jacket/Cover Designer: Brian Johnson with Michelle Lamb

Illustrator:

Photographer: Ásta Thrastardottir

Picture Editor:

Production Director: Tiffany Sprague

Production Coordinator:

Production Artist:

Other Credits: Curators - Keely Orgeman and Mickalene Thomas

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