Hank Willis Thomas

Hank Willis Thomas lives and works in Brooklyn, as a conceptual artist working primarily with themes related to perspective, identity, commodity, media, and popular culture. His work has been exhibited throughout the United States and abroad. To honor Martin Luther King and his wife Coretta Scott King, Thomas created the sculpture The Embrace.

The Embrace was unveiled on January 13, 2023. The 20-foot-tall 19-ton bronze sculpture depicting four intertwined arms is located in Boston Common, the nation's oldest public park. At the opening ceremony, Martin Luther King III and his daughter, MLK's granddaughter Yolanda Renee King, were among the speakers.

Martin Luther King, Jr. studied at the Boston University, earning a Ph.D. from the School of Theology. In Boston he also met Coretta Scott. In 1964, 35-year-old Martin Luther King Jr. celebrated his Nobel Peace Prize with an embrace of Coretta.

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