Plains Art Museum Premieres New Landmark Exhibition, FULL DISCLOSURE
Press Release
For Immediate Release (June 2024)
Fargo, North Dakota–Plains Art Museum is pleased to present the landmark collection of Rob and Eric Thomas-Suwall, known online by their moniker, The Icy Gays or @theicygays on exhibition in the William and Anna Jane Schlossman Gallery. Marking the first public presentation of their collection, the exhibition includes some of the biggest names in contemporary painting and sculpture, including works by Dominique Fung, Anna Weyant, Salman Toor, Hein Koh, and Molly A Greene.
Rob and Eric Thomas-Suwall, based in Minot, North Dakota, acquired their first artwork, Corydon Cowansage’s Stairs #3, seven years ago after discovering it online. To call this purchase life-changing would be an understatement. Becoming “art collectors” was never a goal for the couple, but this painting, with its surreal abstraction of nature, became the point of origin for their committed discovery and support of emerging queer and female artists which would ultimately grow into a landmark collection.
FULL DISCLOSURE is curated by Anne-Laure Lemaitre, a New York based curator, writer, and creative strategist. With +15 years of experience creating global art infused activations, greater than life installations and complex site-specific programs around the world, she strongly believes in the importance of anchoring art in its context to further its impact, trigger new perspectives, and explore new conceptual territories. With FULL DISCLOSURE, The Icy Gays and Lemaitre invite everyone into their world where nature and humanity surreally entwine, and new identities emerge.
The exhibition is on view through October 20th and is free and open to the public seven days a week during the museum’s standard operating hours.
Plains Art Museum is the largest and only accredited art museum in North Dakota and Western Minnesota. General admission is free thanks to strong and growing support from over 800 households and businesses. The Museum manages a permanent collection of over 4,000 objects, organizes and presents dozens of exhibitions annually, facilitates public art projects, and leads over 200 educational programs and experiences for all ages every year. The Museum, and its Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Center for Creativity, are located at 704 First Avenue North in downtown Fargo. For more information about visiting or supporting your art museum, visit plainsart.org.