An art school professor once told Deb Willis that she, as a woman, was taking a place from a good man -- but the storied photographer says she instead made a space for a good man, her son Hank Willis Thomas. In this moving talk, the mother and son artists describe how they draw from one another in their work, how their art challenges mainstream narratives about black life and black joy, and how, ultimately, everything comes down to love.

Deb Willis and Hank Willis Thomas: A mother and son united by love and art

A mother and son united by love and art

Deb Willis's journey proves adversity fuels creativity; her photography defies a professor's gender bias, inspiring hope and resilience.

Hank Willis Thomas explores racial and historical narratives through art, using his mother's legacy as a springboard for social commentary.

Art becomes a legacy of love; a mother and son use photography to explore identity and challenge narratives about black life.