The art world loves a power couple. For years, if you were anyone in the New York gallery scene, you knew the name Racquel Chevremont. Long before she was holding a golden apple on The Real Housewives of New York City, she was a force behind the scenes—a woman who could make or break a career with a single recommendation. But as her public profile has skyrocketed, fans have started digging into her past. Specifically, people are asking about the Racquel Chevremont ex husband art connection and how it shaped the woman we see on screen today.
Honestly, the story is more complicated than just a simple divorce. It’s a tale of two very different lives: one rooted in the high-stakes world of New York finance and another in the avant-garde trenches of contemporary art.
The Finance Era: Corey Baylor
Before the million-dollar paintings and the museum boards, there was Corey Baylor. He is Racquel’s ex-husband, a high-flying New York City financier. They married in 2004 and spent nearly a decade together before divorcing in 2013.
Baylor isn't an "artist" in the traditional sense. You won't find his canvases hanging in the MoMA. However, he played a massive role in the foundational "art" of Racquel’s life: collecting. During their marriage, the couple lived the quintessential upper-crust New York life, but with a specific focus on building a serious collection of African American and diasporic art.
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They have two children together, and while the marriage ended, the momentum Racquel built during those years didn't. She wasn't just a "wife of a financier." She was the one doing the legwork. She was reading investment magazines and art journals while others were hitting the clubs. She was visiting every museum in Europe. By the time the divorce papers were signed, she had already established herself on the acquisition committees of the Studio Museum in Harlem and the Guggenheim.
The Mickalene Thomas Factor
When people search for "Racquel Chevremont ex husband art," they are often actually looking for information on her most famous past partner: Mickalene Thomas.
While they were never legally married, they were life partners and business collaborators for a decade. In the art world, they were the couple. They were engaged, they lived together, and they ran a creative consultancy called Deux Femmes Noires.
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The drama here is where things get "Real Housewives" level intense. In late 2024 and throughout 2025, Racquel filed explosive legal documents against Mickalene. We're talking about a $14 million lawsuit.
The Allegations
- The Payday: Racquel claims she was shorted millions. She alleges she was promised a 20% cut of sales for commissions she brokered, including a massive $2 million bonus for a deal with famed collector Jose Mugrabi.
- The Hostile Environment: The court filings describe "years of exploitation." Racquel alleges that after they broke up in 2020, Mickalene pressured her to get back together and fired her when she refused.
- The Image Rights: If you’ve seen Mickalene’s work, you’ve likely seen Racquel. She was the muse. One portrait of Racquel sold for $1.8 million at Christie’s. Racquel is now seeking redress for the use of her image and her "uncompensated labor."
It's a messy, heartbreaking end to what was once a legendary partnership. They used to be "old school," keeping lists of artists they wanted to help in little physical notebooks. Now, they communicate through attorneys and New York State Supreme Court filings.
Why This Matters for RHONY Fans
You've probably noticed Racquel’s "piece of art" on her hand—that massive engagement ring from her current fiancée, Mel Corpus. Transitioning from the insular, often snobby art world to the chaotic glare of reality TV is a bold move.
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But Racquel isn't just there for the drama. She’s there for the representation. She has spent her entire career trying to get Black, queer, and Latinx voices into spaces where they were previously ignored. Whether it was through her marriage to Baylor, her partnership with Thomas, or her current role as a "Housewife," the mission hasn't changed.
She’s basically the woman who curated the art you see in the background of Empire, Severance, and And Just Like That. She knows the value of a visual.
What You Can Learn from Racquel’s Journey
If you’re looking at Racquel’s history and wondering how to navigate your own professional or personal partnerships in creative fields, there are a few "expert" takeaways here.
- Get it in Writing: The $14 million lawsuit between Racquel and Mickalene hinges on "written agreements" and verbal promises. In the art world, handshakes are common, but they are a nightmare in court.
- The Power of the Muse: If you are someone's inspiration, know your value. Racquel’s image helped generate millions for a studio. Understanding the "business of you" is vital.
- Pivoting is a Skill: Going from a financier's wife to a top-tier curator to a reality star requires a thick skin and a clear brand. Racquel has managed to keep her "art world" credibility while embracing the "Bravoverse."
The story of the Racquel Chevremont ex husband art connection is really a story about evolution. It’s about a woman who started by collecting art and ended up becoming the art itself—and then fought to make sure she owned the rights to her own story.
To stay ahead of the curve on this, keep an eye on the New York State Supreme Court dockets regarding the case against Mickalene Thomas LLC. The outcome of that suit could set a massive precedent for how "muses" and "strategic advisors" are compensated in the contemporary art market. You might also want to look into the work of Kennedy Yanko or February James, two artists Racquel has championed, to see the kind of talent she’s helped bring to the forefront.