Limited edition Hank Willis Thomas print of Jesse Owens available
Avant Arte, the curated marketplace that makes discovering and owning art radically more accessible, announced its new collaboration with renowned artist Hank Willis Thomas on July 24. 2024. Together, they will release a time-limited print The only bond worth anything between human beings is their humanness, available exclusively on avantarte.com for 48 hours starting 5 PM BST/ 12 PM EDT August, 7, 2024.
The new time-limited print explores the social and historical meaning of sport through the figure of Jesse Owens and offers collectors a chance to experience the intensity of 1936 Olympics in a new print form. In this artwork, the record-breaking athlete launches full speed across the paper, racing in the 100 metres. He wears cut-and-paste clothing in red and doily-patterned white. The collaged blue of the background makes up the third colour of the American flag. The time-limited print is based on a new original work by Hank Willis Thomas that is currently on view in Paris, the host city for the 2024 Olympics.
Thomas is well known for using collage in his works and in recent years has been inspired by well-known sports figures and their legacies. This marks his latest work in that series showcasing Jesse Owens, another athlete the artist is heavily inspired by, and bringing the artwork in print form. To replicate the dynamic texture of the original artwork, Avant Arte’s master printmakers Make-Ready built up the height in nine layers on the UV flatbed.
The print will be available for €650.00/approx. $710.00 including worldwide shipping.
Hank Willis Thomas is known for his multifaceted exploration of Black history and social activism through various mediums, including sculpture, photography, appliqué, film, and installation. As a co-founder of the artist-run collective For Freedoms, Thomas has pioneered public art projects and billboard campaigns designed to foster political engagement and civic conversations. His work often blends pop culture references with historical archives to spotlight overlooked narratives and challenge societal norms.
The collaboration is offered as part of Avant Arte’s ongoing time-limited edition program which aims to open up access for art lovers and collectors to acquire the work of leading contemporary artists in a more accessible format. Since commencing the programme in 2021, Avant Arte has supported almost 15,000 collectors to acquire art for the first time. Artists from the program include Mickalene Thomas, Anish Kapoor, Ai Weiwei, Barry McGee, Nina Chanel Abney and Ed Ruscha.
About Hank Willis Thomas
Hank Willis Thomas is a conceptual artist based in Brooklyn, New York, known for his thought-provoking works that explore Black history, social activism, and overlooked historical narratives. Co-founder of the artist-run collective For Freedoms, Thomas is renowned for his public art projects and billboard campaigns designed to foster political engagement and civic dialogue. His diverse practice spans mediums such as sculpture, photography, appliqué, film, and installation, driven by the idea that the concept dictates the form.
Central to his work is the notion of love as a radical tool for social liberation, learning, and healing, balancing hope with the realities of oppression.
