“Through Color, I have sought to concentrate on beauty and happiness, rather than on man’s inhumanity to man.” – Alma Thomas 

In today’s post, we dive into the treasure of Alma Thomas and her joyful body of work. Alma Thomas is one of my favorite painters lately, in a world full of pessimism and negativity Alma Thomas’s bodies of work are an uplifting appreciation of life. Even in a world that seems to be at odds, Alma Thomas makes us reflect on the beauties of life while simultaneously recognizing its sins. Alma Thomas was born and raised in Columbus, Georgia in 1891 where she faced racism and discrimination throughout her entire upbringing. Alma Thomas was denied the ability to enter her local museums so she was forced to deprive inspiration in everyday life. Alma was inspired by the trees and vibrant colors found in nature from outside the gates of the museums. I love the gaps of white in her work, reminding me of the reflection of the sun hitting the leaves. I love Starry Night and Astronauts encompassing the night through the eyes of joy and dream fulfillment with the vibrant use of color as she references the moon landing.  Alma Thomas began her career at 71, proving it’s never too late to do anything. She was a professor at Howard University where she taught students the importance of expressing themselves no matter what the situation. Being able to express yourself as a young black individual is crucial for self-development and the overall well-being of our society. After reading Art on My Mind by Bell Hooks, one of the things that stood out to me was how Bell Hooks emphasizes the importance of nurturing black children through their creativity, how through arts education at an early age you can foster the belief inside someone that will last a lifetime. I am so fortunate to have gone to a historically Black arts High School, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas Texas and I will never take that for granted. Being able to be surrounded by so many artists at such a developmental stage in your life encased by teachers who want to see you thrive and grow as an artist has helped carry me into the artist I am today! Alma Thomas taught so many young black scholars to help them nurture their beliefs not only within their art but within themselves after all the development of the artist is the development of the whole person. Alma Thomas was able to create a new technique of art that changed the trajectory of the art world in Abstract Expressionism. Looking at The Eclipse by Alma Thomas in 1970 reminds me of Rothko as they both play with the strain subject of blatant color however it is interesting to see in both artist’s backgrounds a means to showcase trauma but it is in Thomas’s work there is a sense of perseverance and reflection of beauty of life rather than rebellion and escapism through expression like in Rothko. She has celebrated her life and has celebrated the people around her. Alma Thomas fought for her art and now it is being seen from the Smithsonian to hang above the dinner table in the White House!

Next time you go for a walk or on your drive to work, take notice of of all of the colorful things you see and take notice on how that makes you feel! Its amazing to see how much the world can have an impact on us just through the sight of color!

Cheers and keep those pinkies up,

-M

Visit A work of art By Alma Thomas near you!

Washington, D.C. : Smithsonian American Art Museum + National Museum of Women in the Arts

New Orleans, Louisiana: New Orleans Museum of Art

Savannah, Georgia : SCAD Museum of Art

Newark, New Jersey: The Newark Museum of Art

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