Alma Thomas Tribute
Alma Thomas, Starry Night and the Astronauts, The Art Institute of Chicago
Alma Thomas is one of the artists I discovered while developing my online course, Elements. For each section I do a slide show of artist's images that explore the element we're focusing on. I found myself drawn back to her work for each section as she explores shape, line, color, and so on!
Alma Thomas was a high school art teacher for over 35 years and very involved in the DC art community. But it was after she retired in 1960 that she developed the unique style she is known for today.
Alma Thomas, Autumn Leaves Fluttering in the Breeze, 1973, acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of the artist, 1980.36.9
Turns out, there’s a city-wide tribute in Washington, DC going on right now in her honor.
The Phillips Collection site states
“...A leader within her creative community, Thomas shaped the DC art scene through her association with Howard University, American University, and the Barnett Aden Gallery (one of the first Black-owned private galleries in the nation), which she helped co-found. She made history in 1971 by becoming the first Black woman given a solo show at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York at age 81, and again in 2015 by becoming the first Black woman to have a work of art acquired by the White House Collection.”
Alma Thomas, Delightful Song by Red Dahlia, 1976, acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of the artist, 1980.36.4
Thomas was inspired by color and light in nature, reflected in her mosaic-like paintings. I suspect she was also inspired by music as many of her titles suggest.
One of the museums participating in this tribute is the Smithsonian. You can click on any of the paintings on this page to learn more and even see the color palette used - one of my favorite features from the Smithsonian site. Clicking on each color takes you to another page of art using that same hue.
If you enjoy these images and want to learn more, the Phillips website is a great start. They include links to other resources and events going on around DC throughout the fall and some into December.