Chicago artist Thelonious Stokes has been making waves with his provocative performances, challenging the art world's long-standing Eurocentric bias and pushing the boundaries of what it means to be Black. In brief Instagram videos, Stokes, 30, has turned heads at the British Museum in London, the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, and even in front of Michelangelo's David at Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, his face and chest painted black with gold teeth gleaming in the camera.
Stokes' goal is to equalize the art scene, treating marginalized communities like O Block, a notorious South Side neighborhood, just as seriously as European art institutions. His performances, accompanied by a musical track of him playing cello, aim to disrupt historically white art spaces and raise awareness about the erasure of Blackness in Western art.
The artist's work challenges the notion of Blackness being synonymous with negativity, drawing from his own experiences growing up on Chicago's South Side, where anger and rage are often repressed. Stokes hopes to highlight the complexity of emotions that Black people face, particularly in a society that seeks to silence them.
By incorporating elements of African art and history into his work, Stokes is bridging the gap between Western art and the diverse experiences of Black communities. His book, "Death," will feature photographs, journal entries, sketches, and social media comments, offering a candid look at his creative process and the reactions of viewers worldwide.
Stokes' performances have garnered millions of views on social media since July, with many expressing their support for his work as activism. However, not everyone is comfortable with his approach, which has sparked controversy and even racism in some comments.
As Stokes continues to push boundaries and challenge the status quo, he remains committed to his mission: to insert Blackness at the highest level of art institutions and to give voice to the emotions that are often silenced. His work serves as a powerful reminder that art can be both a tool for empowerment and a catalyst for change.
Stokes' goal is to equalize the art scene, treating marginalized communities like O Block, a notorious South Side neighborhood, just as seriously as European art institutions. His performances, accompanied by a musical track of him playing cello, aim to disrupt historically white art spaces and raise awareness about the erasure of Blackness in Western art.
The artist's work challenges the notion of Blackness being synonymous with negativity, drawing from his own experiences growing up on Chicago's South Side, where anger and rage are often repressed. Stokes hopes to highlight the complexity of emotions that Black people face, particularly in a society that seeks to silence them.
By incorporating elements of African art and history into his work, Stokes is bridging the gap between Western art and the diverse experiences of Black communities. His book, "Death," will feature photographs, journal entries, sketches, and social media comments, offering a candid look at his creative process and the reactions of viewers worldwide.
Stokes' performances have garnered millions of views on social media since July, with many expressing their support for his work as activism. However, not everyone is comfortable with his approach, which has sparked controversy and even racism in some comments.
As Stokes continues to push boundaries and challenge the status quo, he remains committed to his mission: to insert Blackness at the highest level of art institutions and to give voice to the emotions that are often silenced. His work serves as a powerful reminder that art can be both a tool for empowerment and a catalyst for change.
he's literally changing the game with his performances at museums in europe, turning heads w/ his black face & gold teeth 
but its not just about looks, hes tryin to break down the Eurocentric bias in art and give voice to marginalized communities 
what im most impressed by is how he's incorporatin elements of african art & history into his work, bridgin the gap between western art and black experiences 
his book "death" sounds like it'll be super raw & honest, cant wait 2 read more 
I'm loving Thelonious Stokes' energy! He's totally changing the game with his bold performances 
, it's about time we shift the focus from Eurocentric art to something more inclusive 
. It's crazy to see how much reaction he's gotten on social media since July 
, some people are totally with him, but others... not so much 
. I think it's time for us to reevaluate what we consider "art" and who gets represented in those spaces 
. Thelonious Stokes is the real MVP when it comes to sparking this conversation 
.
He's like, totally changing the game with his bold performances that make you see blackness in a whole new light 
. His art is like a punch to the gut – it's raw, it's real, and it's real important 
. I love how he's using his platform to amplify marginalized voices and bring attention to the erasure of blackness in Western art 
. It's like, his message is super powerful, but it's also not for everyone 
. Overall, I'm all about supporting artists who are using their talents to spark conversations and bring about change 
but seriously tho, can't we give credit where credit is due? This guy's been doing this for years and people are finally starting to take notice 
his work is more than just a performance, it's a commentary on the state of our society and the erasure of Blackness in art. He's not trying to be provocative for the sake of being provocative, he's trying to spark real change 
I mean, who needs a masterpiece like the Sistine Chapel when you can just slap some gold teeth on yourself and call it an art installation 
? Thelonious Stokes is definitely making waves in the art world, but I'm not sure if he's trying to shock or just really into grilling 
️. Either way, kudos to him for speaking truth to power (or at least, to the art establishment). And honestly, can you imagine walking past a painting of David and seeing someone with gold teeth like it's no big deal? Like, is that supposed to be intimidating or something? 
The fact that he's getting 300k+ views on YouTube every week since July? That's insane!