Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas
from the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Alma Thomas is a singular figure in the story of twentieth-century American Art. She developed her exuberant form of abstract painting late in life, after retiring from a long career as a schoolteacher.
On tour from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Composing Color invites guests to see the world through Alma Thomas’s eyes, celebrating her philosophy of art as a restorative force and her lifelong dedication to the cultivation of beauty.
Known for her dazzling abstract paintings inspired by her love of nature, music, and the cosmos, Thomas transformed color into a symbolic and multisensory experience that evokes sound, motion, temperature, and even scent. Her work reminds us of the transformative power of art and the beauty in everyday life.
Advance tickets required
Included with General Admission and free for Members
Composing Color Playlist
Much like her beloved garden, music served as a source of inspiration and joy for Alma Thomas. She often listened to music while painting, intertwining her love of music and nature to create compositions that evoke harmony, melody, balance, and rhythm. This playlist celebrates her eclectic musical taste and includes many of her favorite tunes, ranging from pop to the soundtrack from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas from the Smithsonian American Art Museum is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Generous support has been provided by the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, Chris G. Harris, the Wolf Kahn Foundation, and Susan Talley.
The exhibition is made possible due to the generosity of Markham Roberts for the Cain Foundation.
