The Mandy and Cliff Einstein Visiting Artist Series: Hank Willis Thomas

Artist Lecture & Q&A: 7:00–9:00 pm The Forum on the Otis College of Art and Design Campus 9045 Lincoln Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045 Join us for an evening with acclaimed conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas, whose wide-ranging practice explores how identity, race, and community are shaped and reflected by advertising, media, and the visual culture that surrounds us. Through photography, sculpture, video, and public art, Thomas often reclaims and reworks familiar images and symbols, inviting viewers to look more critically at the stories and assumptions embedded within contemporary culture. Thomas's practice reflects a deep interest in love, belonging, collective memory, and civic dialogue. His public artworks bring these ideas into shared spaces across the country, including The Embrace (2023), his monument to Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King on Boston Common, and With These Hands: A Memorial to the Enslaved and Exploited (2025) at Davidson College. He also co-founded For Freedoms, an artist-led organization that uses art to foster civic engagement, discourse, and direct action. This event is free and open to the public. Space is limited, and admission is available on a first-come, first-served basis.