Now recognized as a major American painter of the 20th century, Alma Thomas (1891-1978) is best known for her colorful abstract paintings. Thomas believed in creating beautiful work. She said:
“I’ve never bothered painting the ugly things in life. People struggling, having difficulty. You meet that when you go out, and then you have to come back and see the same thing hanging on the wall. No. I wanted something beautiful that you could sit down and look at. And then, the paintings change you.” –– Alma Thomas, ca. 1977–78
Besides many books on the artist, the Fine Arts Library also has an Alma Thomas puzzle! When you get tired of studying, or just feeling tired of seeing too many ugly things in the world, come to the library, and let your mind go by looking at this colorful puzzle. You can also borrow it and take it home with you!
Image 1: “Through color, I have sought to concentrate on beauty and happiness, rather than on man’s inhumanity to man.” –– Alma Thomas, 1970
Image 2: Color photograph of Alma Thomas in the studio
Image 3: Completed Alma Thomas puzzle at the Fine Arts Library
Alma Thomas New York, New York : The Studio Museum in Harlem ; Saratoga Springs, New York : The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College ; Munich : DelMonico Books/Prestel, 2016. HOLLIS number: 990148627750203941
Alma Thomas in Her Studio Color photography Columbus Museum, Columbus (Muscogee, Georgia, United States) (inhabited place) HOLLIS number: 8001685875
The second image is part of FAL’s Digital Images and Slides Collection (DISC), a collection of images digitized from secondary sources for use in teaching and learning. FAL does not own the original artworks represented in this collection, but you can find more information at HOLLIS Images.
