Hank Willis Thomas (born 1976 in Plainfield, NJ) is a photographer, sculptor and conceptual artist working with themes related to identity, history and popular culture. He lives and works in New York City.

The artist often incorporates recognizable icons into his work, many from well-known advertising and branding campaigns. On advertising, in an interview with Time, Thomas said, “Part of advertising’s success is based on its ability to reinforce generalizations developed around race, gender and ethnicity which are generally false, but [these generalizations] can sometimes be entertaining, sometimes true, and sometimes horrifying.”

Although trained as a photographer, his practice includes such diverse media as totems, sculptures and African tribal quilts. His work also involves themes of the hidden, potential dangers hiding behind the rewards and fame of sports and of how sports promote national interests.

Conceptual artist, photographer, and arts educator, Hank Willis Thomas, talks about his primary interests in race, advertising and popular culture, what makes a great photographer & more. Subscribe to TIME ►► http://po.st/SubscribeTIME Get closer to the world of entertainment and celebrity news as TIME gives you access and insight on the people who make what you watch, read and share.

An art school professor once told Deborah Willis that she, as a woman, was taking a place from a good man -- but the storied photographer says she instead made a space for a good man, her son Hank Willis Thomas.

Exhibits throughout the US and abroad

International Center of Photography
Galerie Michel Rein in Paris
Studio Museum in Harlem, NY

Thomas’ work is in numerous public collections including The Museum of Modern Art NY, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Whitney Museum of American Art, The Brooklyn Museum, The High Museum of Art and the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.