Patricia Renee’ Thomas
Sun-soaked, translucent, buttery and fresh — these works make you want to sit beside them, take a deep breath, and whisper: I’m okay, the world loves me.
As summer winds down, we want to wrap you up in warmth and sunlight — the same way the paintings of Patricia Renee’ Thomas (b. 1995), a Philly-born and raised artist, seem to do.
Her work feels both light, like stained glass catching the sun, and rich, like fresh oil paint layered on canvas. Standing in front of her pieces makes you want to pause, smile, let go, and just breathe. It’s that rare mix of calm vibes and sharp contemporary style.



Drawing on memory, women’s bodies, hair, nature, and the spaces we move through, Patricia builds alternative worlds — safe, gentle places where you can simply exist without fear or pressure. You almost want to sit down on the floor beside her paintings, close your eyes, and remind yourself: it’s all good. This world is friendly, and it loves you back.

Patricia’s art also dives deep into the politics of beauty: what it means to be seen as “acceptable” in Western culture, and why hair, style, and accessories carry the weight of identity and expectation. Camouflage and nature appear often in her work too — as ways to shelter the body in spaces free of judgment or control.

She works across mediums — painting, drawing, mixed techniques — with a careful attention to color, texture, and story. Her talent has been recognized with awards like the Meyer Family Award for Contemporary Art from The Colored Girls Museum and the Toby Devan Lewis Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania.

Her art is an invitation — especially for women — to look inward and feel that quiet glow of confidence. Because we do live in a world full of beauty and freedom, and love for that world begins with love for yourself.


If her style resonates with you, make sure to follow her on Instagram to keep up with upcoming shows, events, and workshops.