Tomashi Jackson: Art, Color & Activism
- Artist Tomashi Jackson's mid-career survey, "Across the Universe," has arrived at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston for an extended run.
- jackson, while pursuing her MFA at Yale, recognized parallels between color theory and American discourse on race.She noted that descriptions of color phenomena often mirrored societal constraints and...
- Her work synthesizes these insights with explorations of the education system, public space, and historical narratives surrounding racial justice.
Explore Tomashi Jackson’s “Across the Universe” at the Contemporary arts Museum Houston: a groundbreaking exhibition dissecting the profound link between color theory and the fight for racial justice. This mid-career survey showcases Jackson’s innovative mixed media pieces, revealing her lifelong interest with color, its historical context, and emotional power. Through reclaimed materials and striking visuals, Jackson’s work challenges perceptions and sparks conversation, drawing parallels between color phenomena and societal constraints. News Directory 3 is proud to highlight this compelling analysis of race and art. Her art references civil rights milestones, like her piece “Dajerria All alone”. This exhibition is a homecoming for the Houston-born artist. Discover what’s next for jackson’s inspiring vision.
Tomashi Jackson’s “Across the Universe” Opens in Houston
Updated May 27, 2025
Artist Tomashi Jackson’s mid-career survey, “Across the Universe,” has arrived at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston for an extended run. The exhibition, a major exploration of color theory and its intersection with racial justice, showcases Jackson’s striking mixed media works.
jackson, while pursuing her MFA at Yale, recognized parallels between color theory and American discourse on race.She noted that descriptions of color phenomena often mirrored societal constraints and discomfort related to race.
Her work synthesizes these insights with explorations of the education system, public space, and historical narratives surrounding racial justice. The exhibition, which originated in 2023, has already toured Denver, Philadelphia, and Boston.
Jackson’s pieces frequently enough feature bold primary colors layered with textures and soft-focus portraits. These works evoke both urban murals and abstract expressionism, radiating energy and exuberance.
Jackson describes her lifelong captivation with color: “Trying to understand how color responds to itself has been a lifelong fascination of mine. There’s so much that translates about emotion and history through color.”
Her art frequently references court cases and milestones in the struggle for Black civil rights. Such as, her 2016 piece, “Dajerria All Alone (bolling v Sharpe (District of Columbia)) (McKinney Pool Party),” commemorates a landmark school desegregation case and the 2018 assault of a Black teenager by a police officer.
“I felt like my responsibility was to discuss public narratives,” Jackson said. “I was trying to find ways to make a contribution to our history, since so much has already been done.”
Jackson incorporates reclaimed materials like brown paper bags and gauze into her art, a practise dating back to her undergraduate studies. She explained that using salvaged materials allows her to engage with the material reality of objects.
Early in her career, Jackson intentionally avoided color, focusing rather on the inherent qualities of found materials. This exploration led her to consider the relationship between cultural memories and disposable items that persist for millennia.
A notable addition to this iteration of “Across the Universe” is “minute by Minute,” a mixed media piece dedicated to Jackson’s late mother. the work incorporates family photos, a walnut awning, and marble, referencing a Doobie Brothers album they both cherished.
The exhibition also includes video of Jackson’s drag king persona, Tommy Tonight, who performs the Doobie Brothers’ song as a tribute to her mother. Jackson sees this character as emerging from grief, reflecting the historical connection between drag performance and mourning.
“I now understand that he emerged out of grief for my mother’s illness and eventual passing,” she said. “Our last iteration of the show allowed me to learn more about the history of drag performance as art historically born of grief – a party of grief. So that character has a whole video room unto himself.”
Born in Houston, Jackson views “Across the universe” as a homecoming. She spent her childhood in Southern California but traces her family’s roots back to Texas.This mid-career milestone represents both a culmination and a new beginning.
“I was conceived in 3rd ward of Houston and born there, and I was later taken to southern California and raised there with my maternal family. It feels like a miracle that Contemporary Arts Museum Houston has agreed to host this show. It’s literally been a lifelong dream.”
What’s next
The “Across the Universe” exhibit is scheduled to remain at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston for nearly a year, offering ample possibility to experience Jackson’s unique artistic vision.