D.C. Artist Alma Thomas on WETA Arts

Mon., Feb. 6, 9:30 p.m. on WETA PBS; 8:30 p.m. on WETA Metro; stream on the PBS App

In February’s special edition of WETA Arts, marking Black History Month, host Felicia Curry presents the story of an extraordinary Washington, D.C. artist, Alma Thomas (1891-1978). It’s a uniquely Washington story: Thomas used art and education to open doors across gender lines and racial boundaries during a time when the national capital area — and the arts — were deeply segregated.

Born in Columbus, Georgia, Thomas moved to Washington in 1907 with her family to escape violence and in search of better educational opportunities. In D.C., while cultivating her own artistic interests and development, she spent a lifetime introducing the visual arts to generations of Black students, transgressing racial barriers in the city’s cultural and educational institutions, and creating racially integrated art spaces. Her art from her Washington Color School period became nationally recognized when she was 77 years old; her achievements include becoming the first Black woman to have a solo show at the prestigious Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. After her death, her work fell into relative obscurity until the White House added a painting of hers (“Resurrection”) to its art collection in 2014. Since then, Thomas has again received recognition on a national level, both for her artistic output and for breaking barriers as a Black woman artist.

While her national and international recognition has ebbed and flowed, Thomas’ story, work and legacy continue to be amplified both on the streets of D.C. and in its biggest museums. This month, WETA Arts is honored to illuminate the extraordinary life of Alma Thomas and present her remarkable Washington art story. The program premieres February 6 and repeats Monday, February 20 at 9:30 p.m. on WETA PBS and 8:30 p.m. on WETA Metro.