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Selected Works

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A.M. In 2020  24.25" x 12"  Mixed Media On Canvas

A.M. In 2020

24.25" x 12"

Mixed Media On Canvas

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Acknowledgment  54″ x 40″  Mixed Media

Acknowledgment

54″ x 40″

Mixed Media

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Astral Projecting  48″ x 40″  Mixed Media

Astral Projecting

48″ x 40″

Mixed Media

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Beautiful Child  20" x 16"  Mixed Media

Beautiful Child

20" x 16"

Mixed Media

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Ben With A Knit Cap  15" x 6.75"  Acrylic On Canvas

Ben With A Knit Cap

15" x 6.75"

Acrylic On Canvas

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Ben's Ying Or Yang  9.5" x 6.5"  Acrylic On Canvas

Ben's Yin Or Yang (SOLD)

9.5" x 6.5"

Acrylic On Canvas

 

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Big Sad  24″ x 18″  Mixed Media

Big Sad

24″ x 18″

Mixed Media

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Bill Via Zoom  11.5" x 10.5"  Acrylic On Canvas

Bill Via Zoom (SOLD)

11.5" x 10.5"

Acrylic On Canvas

 

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Child-Self  10" x 8"  Mixed Media

Child-Self

10" x 8"

Mixed Media

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Comfort  53.5″ x 44″  Mixed Media

Comfort

53.5″ x 44″

Mixed Media

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Diaspora  30" x 14"  Mixed Media On Panel

Diaspora

30" x 14"

Mixed Media On Panel

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Do You  24" x 14"  Mixed Media

Do You

24" x 14"

Mixed Media

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Filling The Gratitude Cup  43.5" x 29"  Mixed Media

Filling The Gratitude Cup (SOLD)

43.5" x 29"

Mixed Media

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I Am Enough  16" x 12"  Mixed Media

I Am Enough

16" x 12"

Mixed Media

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I Matter, I Am  10" x 8"  Mixed Media

I Matter, I Am

10" x 8"

Mixed Media

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Learning To Love Myself  20″ x 32″  Mixed Media

Learning To Love Myself

20″ x 32″

Mixed Media

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Levels Of Reality  33″ x 47″  Mixed Media

Levels Of Reality

33″ x 47″

Mixed Media

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MBP At 5 Years  24.5" x 24"  Acrylic

MBP At 5 Years

24.5" x 24"

Acrylic

 

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Our Words Have Power  20″ x 16″  Mixed Media

Our Words Have Power

20″ x 16″

Mixed Media

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Pain Is Self Created  33.5″ x 30.5″  Mixed Media

Pain Is Self Created

33.5″ x 30.5″

Mixed Media

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Past, Present, Future  45" x 30"  Mixed Media

Past, Present, Future

45" x 30"

Mixed Media

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Peace   53.5″ x 44″  Mixed Media

Peace 

53.5″ x 44″

Mixed Media

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Perfectly Created  54″ x 40″  Mixed Media

Perfectly Created

54″ x 40″

Mixed Media

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Risk Being Amazing  25" x 11"  Mixed Media

Risk Being Amazing

25" x 11"

Mixed Media

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Self Care Sunday  56″ x 42″  Mixed Media

Self Care Sunday

56″ x 42″

Mixed Media

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Self Portrait With Pfizer Band-aid  24.5" x 10.5"  Acrylic, Ink, Glitter And Collaged Bandage On Canvas

Self Portrait With Pfizer Band-aid

24.5" x 10.5"

Acrylic, Ink, Glitter And Collaged Bandage On Canvas

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Self Portrait With Purple Stripes  18 " x 9"  Mixed Media

Self Portrait With Purple Stripes

18 " x 9"

Mixed Media

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Self Portrait With Re9al Shirt  24" x 16"  Acrylic On Canvas

Self Portrait With Re9al Shirt

24" x 16"

Acrylic On Canvas

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Shadow Self  16" x 12"  Mixed Media

Shadow Self

16" x 12"

Mixed Media

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Tameeka, PEC Shelter Resident  24.5" x 14"  Acrylic On Canvas

Tameeka, PEC Shelter Resident

24.5" x 14"

Acrylic On Canvas

 

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The Architect  20″ x 16″  Mixed Media

The Architect

20″ x 16″

Mixed Media

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The Conscious Magician  33″ x 29.5″  Mixed Media

The Conscious Magician

33″ x 29.5″

Mixed Media

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The Cycle Breaker  46" x 31"  Mixed Media

The Cycle Breaker (SOLD)

46" x 31"

Mixed Media

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The Grouch  16" x 12"  Mixed Media

The Grouch

16" x 12"

Mixed Media

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The Myth  24" x 18"  Mixed Media

The Myth

24" x 18"

Mixed Media 

 
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The Panic Attack  44.5" x 31"  Mixed Media On Primary Tufting Cloth

The Panic Attack

44.5" x 31"

Mixed Media On Primary Tufting Cloth

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The Perils  18" x 9"  Mixed Media On Panel

The Perils

18" x 9"

Mixed Media On Panel

 

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The Veil  16.5" x 12"  Mixed Media On Panel

The Veil (SOLD)

16.5" x 12"

Mixed Media On Panel

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Universal Love  40" x 30"  Mixed Media

Universal Love

40" x 30"

Mixed Media

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Wake Up!  30" x 51"  Mixed Media

Wake Up!

30" x 51"

Mixed Media

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You Are Enough  10" x 8"  Mixed Media

You Are Enough

10" x 8"

Mixed Media

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A.M. In 2020  24.25" x 12"  Mixed Media On Canvas

A.M. In 2020

24.25" x 12"

Mixed Media On Canvas

Shop

 

Acknowledgment  54″ x 40″  Mixed Media

Acknowledgment

54″ x 40″

Mixed Media

Astral Projecting  48″ x 40″  Mixed Media

Astral Projecting

48″ x 40″

Mixed Media

Beautiful Child  20" x 16"  Mixed Media

Beautiful Child

20" x 16"

Mixed Media

Ben With A Knit Cap  15" x 6.75"  Acrylic On Canvas

Ben With A Knit Cap

15" x 6.75"

Acrylic On Canvas

Shop

Ben's Ying Or Yang  9.5" x 6.5"  Acrylic On Canvas

Ben's Yin Or Yang (SOLD)

9.5" x 6.5"

Acrylic On Canvas

 

Big Sad  24″ x 18″  Mixed Media

Big Sad

24″ x 18″

Mixed Media

Bill Via Zoom  11.5" x 10.5"  Acrylic On Canvas

Bill Via Zoom (SOLD)

11.5" x 10.5"

Acrylic On Canvas

 

Child-Self  10" x 8"  Mixed Media

Child-Self

10" x 8"

Mixed Media

Comfort  53.5″ x 44″  Mixed Media

Comfort

53.5″ x 44″

Mixed Media

Diaspora  30" x 14"  Mixed Media On Panel

Diaspora

30" x 14"

Mixed Media On Panel

Shop

Do You  24" x 14"  Mixed Media

Do You

24" x 14"

Mixed Media

Filling The Gratitude Cup  43.5" x 29"  Mixed Media

Filling The Gratitude Cup (SOLD)

43.5" x 29"

Mixed Media

I Am Enough  16" x 12"  Mixed Media

I Am Enough

16" x 12"

Mixed Media

I Matter, I Am  10" x 8"  Mixed Media

I Matter, I Am

10" x 8"

Mixed Media

Learning To Love Myself  20″ x 32″  Mixed Media

Learning To Love Myself

20″ x 32″

Mixed Media

Levels Of Reality  33″ x 47″  Mixed Media

Levels Of Reality

33″ x 47″

Mixed Media

MBP At 5 Years  24.5" x 24"  Acrylic

MBP At 5 Years

24.5" x 24"

Acrylic

 

Our Words Have Power  20″ x 16″  Mixed Media

Our Words Have Power

20″ x 16″

Mixed Media

Pain Is Self Created  33.5″ x 30.5″  Mixed Media

Pain Is Self Created

33.5″ x 30.5″

Mixed Media

Past, Present, Future  45" x 30"  Mixed Media

Past, Present, Future

45" x 30"

Mixed Media

Peace   53.5″ x 44″  Mixed Media

Peace 

53.5″ x 44″

Mixed Media

Perfectly Created  54″ x 40″  Mixed Media

Perfectly Created

54″ x 40″

Mixed Media

Risk Being Amazing  25" x 11"  Mixed Media

Risk Being Amazing

25" x 11"

Mixed Media

Self Care Sunday  56″ x 42″  Mixed Media

Self Care Sunday

56″ x 42″

Mixed Media

Self Portrait With Pfizer Band-aid  24.5" x 10.5"  Acrylic, Ink, Glitter And Collaged Bandage On Canvas

Self Portrait With Pfizer Band-aid

24.5" x 10.5"

Acrylic, Ink, Glitter And Collaged Bandage On Canvas

Shop

Self Portrait With Purple Stripes  18 " x 9"  Mixed Media

Self Portrait With Purple Stripes

18 " x 9"

Mixed Media

Self Portrait With Re9al Shirt  24" x 16"  Acrylic On Canvas

Self Portrait With Re9al Shirt

24" x 16"

Acrylic On Canvas

Shop

Shadow Self  16" x 12"  Mixed Media

Shadow Self

16" x 12"

Mixed Media

Tameeka, PEC Shelter Resident  24.5" x 14"  Acrylic On Canvas

Tameeka, PEC Shelter Resident

24.5" x 14"

Acrylic On Canvas

 

The Architect  20″ x 16″  Mixed Media

The Architect

20″ x 16″

Mixed Media

The Conscious Magician  33″ x 29.5″  Mixed Media

The Conscious Magician

33″ x 29.5″

Mixed Media

The Cycle Breaker  46" x 31"  Mixed Media

The Cycle Breaker (SOLD)

46" x 31"

Mixed Media

The Grouch  16" x 12"  Mixed Media

The Grouch

16" x 12"

Mixed Media

The Myth  24" x 18"  Mixed Media

The Myth

24" x 18"

Mixed Media 

 
The Panic Attack  44.5" x 31"  Mixed Media On Primary Tufting Cloth

The Panic Attack

44.5" x 31"

Mixed Media On Primary Tufting Cloth

The Perils  18" x 9"  Mixed Media On Panel

The Perils

18" x 9"

Mixed Media On Panel

 

The Veil  16.5" x 12"  Mixed Media On Panel

The Veil (SOLD)

16.5" x 12"

Mixed Media On Panel

Universal Love  40" x 30"  Mixed Media

Universal Love

40" x 30"

Mixed Media

Wake Up!  30" x 51"  Mixed Media

Wake Up!

30" x 51"

Mixed Media

Shop

You Are Enough  10" x 8"  Mixed Media

You Are Enough

10" x 8"

Mixed Media

"Preoccupation with the sitter's perception of your painting is not helpful during the act of creating. It's better to be focused on the feeling of the thing, the arrangement of shapes, the colors of pigment... the elements."

- Mickayel Thurin

Mickayel Thurin - Artists - Gross McCleaf Gallery

Popcorn Man (Detail), 24" x 12", Mixed Media On Canvas

My portraits capture my immediate family, close friends or myself as the subject... all of whom have been painted many times over, as I prefer to paint those I know well. Part of this is because after you know someone well and they know you, you lose some of the niceties. You are both your more authentic selves and that is when you can really get down to business.

 

Preoccupation with the sitter's perception of your painting is not helpful during the act of creating. It's better to be focused on the feeling of the thing, the arrangement of shapes, the colors of pigment... the elements. These paintings are my attempt at doing just that. If they end up capturing some of the sitter's essence or personality, it is because of our familiarity and closeness rather than an effort at flattery. In short, these portraits are about the creation process of each painting, not about the models.

 

This body of work consists mainly of acrylic paint on canvas. However, if a painting calls for it, I do not hesitate to utilize collage, watercolor, ink or other mixed media.

Mickayel Thurin - Artists - Gross McCleaf Gallery

No Pepperoni (Detail), 12" x 9", Mixed Media On Canvas

Mickayel Thurin is a Haitian American artist born in 1987 in Newport News, VA. Her family moved frequently so she grew up in NY, VA and MI. She eventually landed in Philadelphia, PA to attend the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) where she studied painting.

 

Thurin’s chief influences have consistently been expressive color, pattern and texture. She is interested in artists such as: Soutine, Bonnard, Alice Neel, Willem de Kooning, Mitzi Melnicoff, Lissy Funk and Jean-Michel Basquiat. The majority of her works tend to be colorful, expressive, abstracted portraiture done with mixed media. They often contain embroidery and collage.

 

At PAFA, Thurin studied under the likes of Jan Batzell, Bill Scott, Michael Gallagher and others. She also met her now-husband and fellow painter, Benjamin Passione, who also exhibits at Gross McCleaf. The two reside in Philadelphia where they share an art studio and their son, Maurice, who is often featured in Thurin’s paintings.

 

Mickayel Thurin - Artists - Gross McCleaf Gallery

SP 2020, 20" x 16", Acrylic On Canvas

Mickayel Thurin - Artists - Gross McCleaf Gallery

A.L. With Sweater (Detail)

12.5" x 8.5"

Mixed Media On Canvas

Video

Mickayel Thurin featured in John Thornton’s film Mickayel Thurin, Adding Joy to Art

Video Description: “One of my most enjoyable video projects was a movie I made 2 years ago about Mickayel Thurin and her artistic family. So it’s great to catch up with them again and see Micka’s dazzling new show at Gross McCleaf. Her inventiveness with composition and materials is peerless. The joyfulness of her art is hard won, and to me, that’s why it’s so profoundly moving. Micka understands all too well that the world is not without sorrow, and her quest for joy and beauty is like a prayer. Her show will be up through April 27, 2024,” - John Thornton.

The Scream: Self-Portraiture that Expresses Universal Emotions featuring Mickayel Thurin in conversation with TK Smith

Gross McCleaf Artist Mickayel Thurin discusses her studio practice with TK Smith, Assistant Curator: Art of the African Diaspora at the Barnes Foundation in The Scream: Self-Portraiture That Expresses Universal Emotions at GMG. In this video, Thurin discusses her personal biography, developing a distinctive style, meaning in materials and formation of the figure, all the while exploring the almalgamation of emotions. 

Family of Artists, Ben Passione, Mickayel Thurin, and the Legendary Maurice by John Thornton

 

Mickayel Thurin, Self-Portrait Video, 4 minutes

work in progress acrylic painting over the course of 3 sittings