Mickalene Thomas unveiled this incredible mural that they traveled to Durham as part of her preparation. They visited the house and took a lot of photos of the local flora, which is incorporated into this piece.
The mural’s 75 separate panels of enamel tile were fitted together like a jigsaw puzzle on the wall. Head of Pauli Murray College Tina Lu said she wanted the mural to be “monumental,” like Pauli Murray’s contributions as a jurist, author, and activist.
Although it took about six years to plan, design, and construct, the mural took only two weeks to install in the dining hall of the college named for Murray, who in 1965 became the first African American to receive a J.S.D. degree from Yale Law School.