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Alma Thomas: A Life in Color
Early Life and Education
Born: 1891 in Columbus, Georgia, Alma Woodsey Thomas was the eldest of four children. Her parents were John Harris Thomas, a businessman, and Amelia Cantey Thomas, a dress designer.
The family relocated to the Logan Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C., in 1907 due to racial violence and seeking better educational opportunities.
Early Artistic Inclinations: From a young age, Thomas displayed artistic talent, creating puppets and sculptures at home.
She attended Armstrong Technical High School, taking her first formal art classes.
Thomas pursued education at Miner Normal School (later University of the District of Columbia) from 1911 to 1913, focusing on kindergarten education.
Career as an Educator
Thomas began her career as a substitute teacher in Maryland before securing a permanent position in 1914.
From 1916 to 1923, she taught kindergarten at the Thomas Garrett Settlement House in Wilmington, Delaware.
In 1921, she enrolled at Howard University as a home economics student but soon switched her focus to fine art under James V. Herring.
Groundbreaking Graduate: She earned her B.S. in Fine Arts from Howard University in 1924, becoming the first graduate of the university’s fine arts program.
Thomas dedicated over three decades to teaching at Shaw Junior High School (1924-1960), fostering a community arts program that included marionette performances and student-designed holiday cards for veterans.
She earned her M.A. in Art Education from Columbia University in 1934, and continued studies at American University under Jacob Kainen (1950-1960).
Artistic Development & Influences
Early Style: Thomas’s early work was representational, but her style evolved towards abstraction through studies with Herring and Lois Mailou Jones.
Key Influences: She drew inspiration from West African paintings, Byzantine mosaics, and the color field movement.
Her exposure to the work of the New York School and Abstract Expressionism at American University significantly impacted her artistic direction.
She was inspired by Matisse’s cutouts, notably reinterpreting “The Snail” in her painting “Watusi (Hard Edge).”
Mature Work & Artistic Style
Color Field Paintings: Thomas became known for her vibrant, abstract color field paintings characterized by pattern, rhythm, and bold use of color.
Her work often reflected themes inspired by nature, space, and music.
Notable Works: Include “Watusi (Hard Edge),” “Celestial Fantasy,” “Wind and Crepe Myrtle Concerto,” and “Sky Light.”
She frequently sought inspiration from the effects of light and atmosphere on rural environments, often driving into the countryside with friend Delilah Pierce.
Recognition & Legacy
Late Recognition: Thomas gained significant recognition after her retirement from teaching in 1960.
Her first retrospective exhibit was held at the Gallery of Art at Howard University in 1966, curated by James A. Porter.
Groundbreaking Exhibition: In 1972, she became the first African American woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Corcoran Gallery of Art in the same year.
Thomas passed away in 1978, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering artist who defied labels and embraced her creative vision.
Historical Significance: Alma Thomas’s work challenged racial barriers within the art world and contributed significantly to the development of abstract expressionism and color field painting.
