Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas from the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Alma Thomas (1891–1978) is a singular figure in twentieth-century American art. After retiring from a long career as a schoolteacher, she developed a distinctive form of abstraction defined by bold pattern, rhythmic composition, and radiant color. Inspired by nature, the cosmos, and music, Thomas created vibrant paintings that transcended established categories, drawing on elements of gestural abstraction and color field painting while forging a style entirely her own.