Alma Thomas: African American Abstract Expressionist Honored Posthumously

Alma Thomas, an African American painter and educator, has gained recognition as a significant figure in Abstract Expressionism, a movement historically dominated by male artists. Born in Georgia in 1891, Thomas moved with her family to Washington, D.C., in 1907 due to racial tensions in the South. She earned a Fine Art degree from Howard University in 1924 and worked as an art teacher until retiring in 1960. After retirement, she focused on painting, studying color field theory at American University and developing her distinctive style. In 1972, Thomas became the first African American woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Her works, such as 'Earth Sermon – Beauty, Love And Peace' (1971), 'Cherry Blossom Symphony' (1973), and 'Breeze Rustling Through Fall Flowers' (1968), are held in institutions like the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and The Phillips Collection. Posthumously, Thomas received notable recognition when First Lady Michelle Obama selected two of her paintings, including 'Resurrection,' for display in the White House during the Obama presidency, highlighting her legacy as a trailblazer in both art and social history.