And Ms. Thomas was careful to note that the eight artists at the Baltimore museum “are doing it for themselves anyway, persevering and carving spaces out on their own,” she said. “This is just an extra nudge.”

One of her strongest ties is to Ms. Charlton, 46, whose local studio Ms. Thomas visited after checking on the progress of “A Moment’s Pleasure.” She’s known the artist for about 15 years; Ms. Charlton has shown work at the Baltimore museum previously and has had solo exhibitions across the country, including at the Union for Contemporary Art in Omaha.

One of her works in the Baltimore show, a figural work on vellum called “Cousins: Rug Burn,” was still in the studio when Ms. Thomas arrived. Standing there too was a sculpture that inspired a series of drawings along the wall: It was a fertility figure in wood made by the Bangwa people of Cameroon. Like Ms. Charlton, it is 60 inches tall.

“When I found her in an antiques store,” she said, “I looked at her and said, ‘You are me!’ The same forehead, the same complexion, and we’re the same height!’ I was like yes!” Ms. Charlton nicknamed it Sib, for sibling.

She added, “I never get to look at people eye-to-eye. Height is physical and arbitrary, and there are already so many things I have to negotiate with race, gender and sexuality.”

Looking at the figure, Ms. Thomas was brimming with ideas. “Do you think you would ever cast her?” she asked.