Alma Thomas
Alma Thomas was an American artist and art teacher who lived and worked in Washington, D.C., and is now recognized as a major American painter of the 20th century. Born on September 22, 1891, in Columbus, Georgia, Thomas is best known for the "exuberant", colorful, abstract paintings that she created after she retired from a 35-year career teaching art at Washington's Shaw Junior High School. Throughout her life, Thomas was a dedicated educator and artist, leaving a lasting impact on the art world.
Thomas's artistic career began to flourish in her later years, as she transitioned from a career in education to a life of full-time art-making. Her vibrant and dynamic paintings, characterized by geometric shapes and bold colors, have been celebrated for their beauty and their significance in the history of American art. In 1972, Thomas became the first African-American woman to be included in the White House's permanent art collection, a testament to her enduring legacy.
Thomas's work has been exhibited in numerous museums and galleries across the United States, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Her paintings are held in the permanent collections of the White House, the National Gallery of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art, among others. Thomas's artistic contributions have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship and the Washington, D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities Award.
Early Life and Education
Alma Woodsey Thomas was born on September 22, 1891, in Columbus, Georgia, to a family of modest means. Her father, William Thomas, was a carpenter, and her mother, Barbara Ann Woodsey Thomas, was a homemaker. Thomas was the second of five children, and her family moved to Washington, D.C. when she was a young girl. She grew up in a community that valued education and the arts, and she was encouraged by her parents to pursue her creative interests.
Thomas attended the Armstrong Manual Training School in Washington, D.C., where she developed her skills as an artist and a teacher. She later attended the Teachers College of Washington, D.C., where she earned a degree in education. In 1911, Thomas began her teaching career at the Shaw Junior High School in Washington, D.C., where she would spend the next 35 years of her life.
Career
Thomas's teaching career spanned over three decades, during which time she taught art to countless students and developed a reputation as a dedicated and innovative educator. In addition to her work as a teacher, Thomas was also an active member of the Washington, D.C. art community, participating in local exhibitions and events throughout her life.
In her later years, Thomas began to focus more on her own artistic practice, and she started to create the vibrant and dynamic paintings that would become her hallmark. Her artistic style was characterized by geometric shapes and bold colors, and her paintings often featured abstracted representations of natural forms and patterns.
Legacy
Alma Thomas's artistic legacy is a testament to her enduring impact on the art world. Her paintings are held in the permanent collections of numerous museums and galleries across the United States, and her work continues to be celebrated for its beauty and its significance in the history of American art.
In 1972, Thomas became the first African-American woman to be included in the White House's permanent art collection, a testament to her enduring legacy. Her artistic contributions have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship and the Washington, D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities Award.
Thomas's legacy extends beyond her own artistic practice, as well. She was a dedicated educator and mentor, and she inspired countless students and artists throughout her life. Her commitment to the arts and to education continues to inspire new generations of artists and educators.
Exhibitions and Collections
Thomas's work has been exhibited in numerous museums and galleries across the United States, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Her paintings are held in the permanent collections of the White House, the National Gallery of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art, among others.
Some of Thomas's notable exhibitions include:
* "Alma Thomas: A Retrospective" (1972), held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art
* "Alma Thomas: A Life in Color" (2016), held at the National Museum of Women in the Arts
* "Alma Thomas: Abstract Expressionist" (2020), held at the Smithsonian American Art Museum
