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One of the largest exhibitions of works by leading contemporary artist Hank Willis Thomas will open Jan. 18 at the University of Arizona Museum of Art. "LOVERULES, From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation" features 90 works of conceptual art, including photography, sculptures, textiles and more.

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"LOVERULES" – which is pronounced "Love Over Rules" – showcases experimentation with mixed media and mass-produced imagery to highlight themes including social history and the battle for equality in platforms including journalism, photography, advertising and popular culture, said Olivia Miller, director of the University of Arizona Museum of Art, or UAMA.

"In this show, Thomas is asking what the role of art is in civic life," Miller said. "How does visual culture like advertising create narratives that shape our notion of what is valuable in society? How does advertising affect the way we see each other?"

The exhibition highlights several series of artworks by Thomas, including "Branded" and "Unbranded: Reflections in Black by Corporate America." In "Branded," Thomas uses sports iconography to explore the history of brand advertising. In "Unbranded," he removes slogans and logos from advertising to highlight how corporate media impacts and shapes notions of African American identity.

The work comes from the collection of Jordan Schnitzer, one of the most prominent art collectors in the United States, who holds over 22,000 works of art. The museum previously worked with Schnitzer for "The Art of Food," exhibition that was on displayed at UAMA from October 2021 to March 2022. Schnitzer has one of the largest private holdings of Thomas' work.

"The first time I saw Hank Willis Thomas' art, I was overwhelmed by his creative genius," Schnitzer, an ARTnews Top 200 Art Collector and president of Schnitzer Properties, said. "His themes, one image after another, force us to deal with issues that far too long have plagued society by not respecting or accepting each other irrespective of race, gender, sexual orientation or religion. I started collecting his work almost six years ago and I am so excited to share our collection with all of you at the University of Arizona Museum of Art."

Brooklyn-based Thomas and Portland-based Schnitzer will visit campus on Feb. 15 for a public conversation in the Center for Creative Photography auditorium. UAMA will also host two additional exhibits that respond to the themes of "LOVERULES." A pop-up exhibition, curated by U of A students and featuring pieces from the museum's permanent collection, will be presented Feb. 15. An exhibition of artwork by area high school students will be on display from Feb. 15-May 17.

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"The arts have a unique ability to encourage peer-to-peer conversation about important issues of our time," said Andy Schulz, vice president for the arts and dean of the College of Fine Arts. "I'm thrilled to see 'LOVERULES' at UAMA – not only because of its scale and caliber, but because it is an inherently interdisciplinary show that promises relevance and application across campus curricula, enriching the learning experience for students both in and well outside of Arizona Arts."

With its interdisciplinary themes exploring advertising, athletics, fashion, racial issues and American history, the exhibition has significant value to members of the campus and Tucson communities, Miller said.

"This is the largest exhibition of Thomas' work in the Southwest, and so many people who live here have not had the opportunity to see his work, certainly at this scale," she said. "So, it's introducing a new artist to the area, and part of our mission is to bring in artists that people might not be able to see otherwise."

The museum will hold a media preview on Jan. 17. Media members can schedule a time to visit the exhibit by contacting Chris Weir, UAMA senior marketing specialist, at crweir@arizona.edu. Thomas and Schnitzer will also give a press tour on Feb. 14, prior to an evening VIP exhibition reception. Those who wish to attend must register online in advance.

The exhibition runs through June 21.