Description
Thomas’s art first entered the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection in 1970. The museum acquired more than a dozen works during the artist’s lifetime and, upon her death, received thirteen canvases by bequest.
Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas draws on these extensive holdings to offer an intimate view of Thomas’s evolving practice during her most prolific period, 1959 to 1978. New research into her materials and techniques show how Thomas continued to innovate until the end of her life, at times changing her methods to adapt to her declining physical ability due to arthritis. As the luminous works in the exhibition reveal, Thomas’s astounding creative drive and mastery of color remained constant through her final years.
After the exhibition closes at SAAM, it will travel to several venues across the United States.
Visiting Information
Educational Resources
On Wednesday, June 29, the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) hosted the first of two free webinars for educators celebrating the creative brilliance of renowned painter Alma Thomas, who was born in the heart of the Jim Crow south and came of age in Washington DC, where she witnessed the social change of the 1960s and was inspired by the Space Age. Join Jonathan F. Walz, Director of Curatorial Affairs & Curator of American Art at the Columbus Museum of Art, to learn about Thomas' remarkable life as a teacher and artist. Cynthia Hodge-Thorne, curatorial fellow at the Baltimore Museum of Art, leads a discussion on the artist’s fascination with the scientific advancements of her day. The program concludes with a Q&A and a preview of new teacher-tested lesson plans.
On Tuesday, October 18, the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) hosted the second of two free webinars for educators celebrating the creative brilliance of renowned painter Alma Thomas, who was born in the heart of the Jim Crow south and came of age in Washington DC, where she witnessed the social change of the 1960s and was inspired by the Space Age. Join aerospace engineer Janelle Wellons and horticulturist Abra Lee, as they reflect on artist Alma Thomas’s legacy as a STEAM trailblazer. Wellons shares insights on how visual images and inquiry can unlock the mysteries of the cosmos, while Lee unearths the histories of Black gardeners. Together, these reflections provide an in-depth understanding of Thomas’s cultural impact and the ways in which her work continues to inspire adults and students alike. The program concludes with a Q&A and a preview of new teacher-tested lesson plans
Teacher-tested! Explore five new lesson plans for grades K-8, and discover how the vibrant paintings of Washington, DC artist Alma Thomas can spark interdisciplinary inquiry in STEM, ELA, and Music. This project received support from the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative.
Online Gallery
Artists
During the 1960s Alma Thomas emerged as an exuberant colorist, abstracting shapes and patterns from the trees and flowers around her.