Au revoir!

Before You Go . . .

Alma Thomas’s artwork is illuminating, with vibrant colors and abstract patterns inspired by trees and flowers. Starting with more traditional representational pieces, she transitioned in the 1960s to a style defined by exuberant colorism. This shift, reminiscent of the bright hues of nature, signified her deep immersion into color theory and her unique perspective of visualizing natural forms from an aerial viewpoint. As a black woman artist in Washington, D.C., she faced challenges but found resonance with the Color Field painters, a movement emphasizing large, unadorned areas of single colors. The Smithsonian American Art Museum honors her profound influence with Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas, an exhibition continuing through June 2024.

Fall Begins by Alma Thomas, 1976 | Acrylic on canvas, 52 × 45 inches, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of the artist, 1980.36.1 | Visit AmericanArt.si.edu for more information.

— V —