"Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas" Exhibition

"Art can be anything. It could be behavior—as long as it’s beautiful."—Alma Thomas (1891–1978) Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas invites you to see the world through the eyes of this singular figure in the story of twentieth-century American art. Thomas developed her exuberant form of abstract painting after retiring from a long career as a schoolteacher. Taking inspiration from nature, the cosmos, and music for her vibrant, rhythmic art, Alma Thomas incorporated the intuitive approach of gestural abstraction and beaming hues of color field painting into her work, which goes beyond established genres. Exhibition included with museum admission. Learn more: https://mag.rochester.edu/exhibitions/composing-color/ -- Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Generous support is provided by the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, Chris G. Harris, The Wolf Kahn Foundation, and Susan Talley. Image: Alma Thomas, The Eclipse, 1970, acrylic on canvas, 62 in. × 49 3⁄4 in. (157.5 × 126.4 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1978.40.3