Thomas worked in close immersion in the neighborhood of Harlem where writer James Baldwin was born. Baldwin’s work sparked a deep sense of empathy in the artist, who chose to explore its real, present-day context and, as always, turn it into a living experience through the lens of drawing.

The result is one of the most powerful drawing periods Thomas has experienced, as he settled in a unique location, Marcus Garvey Park, a landmark of African-American culture since the 1950s, and especially from 1969 onward.