Alma W. Thomas Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Alma W. Thomas Art Value Price Guide

Nov. 21, 2024
ALMA THOMAS (1891-1978) Untitled 6 x 9 in (15.1 x 23 cm) (Executed circa 1970)
Est: $20,000 - $30,000
ALMA THOMAS (1891-1978) Untitled signed 'AWThomas' (lower right) watercolor on paper 6 x 9 in (15.1 x 23 cm) Executed circa 1970
Bonhams
Nov. 21, 2024
ALMA THOMAS (1891-1978) Untitled 8 1/8 x 7 4/3 in (20.7 x 19.7 cm) (Executed circa 1970)
Est: $40,000 - $60,000
ALMA THOMAS (1891-1978) Untitled signed 'A W Thomas' (on the reverse) acrylic on paper 8 1/8 x 7 4/3 in (20.7 x 19.7 cm) Executed circa 1970
Bonhams
Nov. 14, 2024
Alma Thomas, Untitled (from the My Garden series)
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
Alma Thomas Untitled (from the My Garden series) 1969 watercolor on paper sight: 8.625 h x 12 w in (22 x 30 cm) Signed and dated to lower right 'AWT 69'. Provenance: Collection of Charles Young | Thence by descent | Private Collection This work will ship from Lambertville, New Jersey.
Rago Arts and Auction Center
Nov. 11, 2024
ALMA THOMAS 'THE ECLIPSE, 1970' OFFSET LITHOGRAPH
Est: $200 - $400
Alma Thomas (American, 1891-1978) 'The Eclipse, 1970' offset lithograph. Measures 40 x 51 inches.
Antiques & Modern Auction Gallery
Oct. 26, 2024
ATTR ALMA WOODSEY THOMAS ABSTRACT AMERICAN PAINTING
Est: $100 - $150
Attributed to Alma Woodsey Thomas, Afro American, 1891 to 1978, acrylic painting on canvas depicting an abstract optical composition, 1969. Signed and dated lower right. Framed. Alma Thomas is known for Non objective optical imagery painting, teaching. She is well known for her exuberantly colorful canvases filled with abstract shapes and patterns. Her work reflects a long study of color theory, watercolor, and abstraction, and even exploration of costume and marionette design. Thomass early art was realistic, but while at Howard University she became fascinated by abstraction, based on the influence of her professors Lois Mailou Jones and James V. Herring. When she was invited to exhibit her art at Howard in 1966, at age 75, Thomas decided to experiment with a new approach, the type of painting for which she is best known today: large canvases filled with dense, irregular patterns made by brushes heavily laden with bright colors. Her works from the 1970s include titles such as Launch Pad and Blast Off. In 2009, two paintings by Alma Thomas were selected by First Lady Michelle Obama for the White House. One of a kind artwork. Abstract Paintings And Wall Decor Collectibles.
Antique Arena Inc
Oct. 13, 2024
ATTR TO ALMA WOODSEY THOMAS AMERICAN ABSTRACT PAINTING
Est: $100 - $150
Attributed to Alma Woodsey Thomas, American, 1891 to 1978, an oil on canvas painting titled Sparkling Dew On Spring Flowers, circa the late 1960s. Inscribed to the back. Alma Woodsey Thomas was an African-American artist and teacher who lived and worked in Washington, D.C., and is now recognized as a major American painter of the 20th century. Mid Century American Paintings And Art Collectibles.
Antique Arena Inc
Oct. 05, 2024
ALMA WOODSEY THOMAS AMERICAN WATERCOLOR PAINTING
Est: $100 - $150
Alma Woodsey Thomas, Afro American, 1891 to 1978, watercolor painting on paper depicting an abstract optical composition, 1969. Signed and dated, lower right. Framed. Alma Thomas is known for Non objective-optical imagery painting, teaching. She is well known for her exuberantly colorful canvases filled with abstract shapes and patterns.Her work reflects a long study of color theory, watercolor, and abstraction, and even exploration of costume and marionette design. Thomas's early art was realistic, but while at Howard University she became fascinated by abstraction, based on the influence of her professors Lois Mailou Jones and James V. Herring. When she was invited to exhibit her art at Howard in 1966, at age 75, Thomas decided to experiment with a new approach, the type of painting for which she is best known today: large canvases filled with dense, irregular patterns made by brushes heavily laden with bright colors. She found inspiration in trees and flowers around her, often as seen from the windows of her Washington D.C home, as they flickered in changing light. She also liked to imagine seeing natural forms and patterns from a plane, and was fascinated by exploration of outer space. Her works from the 1970s include titles such as Launch Pad and Blast Off. In 2009, two paintings by Alma Thomas were selected by First Lady Michelle Obama for the White House. One of a kind artwork.
Antique Arena Inc
Oct. 03, 2024
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978) Atmosphere (Atmospheric Effect No. 4).
Est: $100,000 - $150,000
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978) Atmosphere (Atmospheric Effect No. 4). Acrylic, watercolor and pencil on Arches paper, 1971. 565x762 mm; 22½x30 inches. Signed in ink, lower right. With the Veritable Papier d'Arches Fin blindstamp, lower right. Provenance: the artist, with a fragment of a typed label, with the title and the artist's address hand-written on the verso; Franz Bader Gallery, Washington, DC, with the gallery label on the frame back; Thomas R. Harney; thence by descent, private collection, Virginia. Tom Harney was a prominent art critic in the late 1960s Washington art scene; he wrote art reviews and articles for the Washington Daily News from 1966-68. Harney wrote "When He Paints, He Pours", a profile of Sam Gilliam for its October 13, 1967 issue. He described the artist's preparations for his solo exhibition at the Phillips Collection, Gilliam's first at a museum. Harney was one of the first writers to describe the artist's studio practice in detail. He later joined the staff of the Smithsonian Institution in 1969, as Science Information Officer to the News Bureau of the Office of Public Affairs, and wrote for The Smithsonian Torch. In 1976 Harney became Writer-Editor at the National Museum of Natural History, and in 1990 he became NMNH's Public Information Officer. Exhibited: Recent Paintings by Alma W. Thomas, Earth and Space Series, 1961-1971, Fisk University, Nashville, TN, October 10 - November 12, 1971. Alma Thomas's Atmosphere is a superb, vivid colored example of her early 1970s works on paper, and one of her important Atmospheric Effect series of abstractions. Thomas developed this body of work between 1970 and 1974, and exhibited twelve numbered works from the series. The Atmospheric Effect series was a formal breakthrough for the artist, with Thomas adopting her most minimal approach to color field painting yet. Each of her compositions of acrylic on Arches paper depicts spectral bands of color, imagery that was inspired by new photographic imagery of light refracted through the atmosphere that were published by the NASA space program. They were first exhibited in her 1970 solo exhibition Alma Thomas: Earth and Space Paintings at the Franz Bader Gallery; the exhibition poster featured one of the watercolors. Other selections from this series were included in each of her subsequent museum solo exhibitions in the early 1970s at Fisk University, the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Corcoran Museum of Fine Art. Today, Atmospheric Effect No. 1 and No. 2 are in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Swann Auction Galleries
Sep. 14, 2024
ATTR ALMA THOMAS ABSTRACT AMERICAN ACRYCLIC PAINTING
Est: $100 - $150
Attributed to Alma Woodsey Thomas, Afro American, 1891 to 1978, acrylic painting on canvas, Spring Flowers, depicting an abstract optical composition, 1969. Signed and dated, lower right. Additionally signed, inscribed, Wash. D.C., titled, and dated, on the backside. Framed. Alma Thomas is known for Non objective optical imagery painting, teaching. She is well known for her exuberantly colorful canvases filled with abstract shapes and patterns. Her work reflects a long study of color theory, watercolor, and abstraction, and even exploration of costume and marionette design. Thomass early art was realistic, but while at Howard University she became fascinated by abstraction, based on the influence of her professors Lois Mailou Jones and James V. Herring. When she was invited to exhibit her art at Howard in 1966, at age 75, Thomas decided to experiment with a new approach, the type of painting for which she is best known today: large canvases filled with dense, irregular patterns made by brushes heavily laden with bright colors. She found inspiration in trees and flowers around her, often as seen from the windows of her Washington D.C home, as they flickered in changing light. She also liked to imagine seeing natural forms and patterns from a plane, and was fascinated by exploration of outer space. Her works from the 1970s include titles such as Launch Pad and Blast Off. In 2009, two paintings by Alma Thomas were selected by First Lady Michelle Obama for the White House. One of a kind artwork.
Antique Arena Inc
Aug. 24, 2024
ALMA WOODSEY THOMAS AMERICAN WATERCOLOR PAINTING
Est: $100 - $150
Alma Woodsey Thomas, Afro American, 1891 to 1978, watercolor painting on paper depicting an abstract optical composition, 1969. Signed and dated, lower right. Framed. Alma Thomas is known for Non objective-optical imagery painting, teaching. She is well known for her exuberantly colorful canvases filled with abstract shapes and patterns.Her work reflects a long study of color theory, watercolor, and abstraction, and even exploration of costume and marionette design. Thomas's early art was realistic, but while at Howard University she became fascinated by abstraction, based on the influence of her professors Lois Mailou Jones and James V. Herring. When she was invited to exhibit her art at Howard in 1966, at age 75, Thomas decided to experiment with a new approach, the type of painting for which she is best known today: large canvases filled with dense, irregular patterns made by brushes heavily laden with bright colors. She found inspiration in trees and flowers around her, often as seen from the windows of her Washington D.C home, as they flickered in changing light. She also liked to imagine seeing natural forms and patterns from a plane, and was fascinated by exploration of outer space. Her works from the 1970s include titles such as Launch Pad and Blast Off. In 2009, two paintings by Alma Thomas were selected by First Lady Michelle Obama for the White House. One of a kind artwork.
Antique Arena Inc
Jul. 17, 2024
Alma Thomas (1891-1978). Untitled. watercolor on paper 9 ¼ x 9 in. (23.5 x
Est: $20,000 - $30,000
Alma Thomas (1891-1978). Untitled. watercolor on paper 9 ¼ x 9 in. (23.5 x 22.9 cm.).
Christie's
May. 17, 2024
ALMA THOMAS (1891-1978) Tulips in Spring Sunshine acrylic on canvas 30 x 26
Est: $800,000 - $1,200,000
ALMA THOMAS (1891-1978) Tulips in Spring Sunshine acrylic on canvas 30 x 26 in. (76.2 x 66 cm.)
Christie's
May. 04, 2024
ALMA WOODSEY THOMAS, (American, 1891-1978), Untitled (from the My Garden Series), 1969, watercolor on paper, sheet: 8 7/8 x 12 1/8 in., frame: 20 x 24 3/4 in.
Est: $10,000 - $20,000
ALMA WOODSEY THOMAS (American, 1891-1978) Untitled (from the My Garden Series) 1969, watercolor on paper signed and dated AWT 69 bottom right
Grogan & Company
May. 04, 2024
ALMA WOODSEY THOMAS, (American, 1891-1978), Untitled (from the My Garden Series), 1966, acrylic and watercolor on paper, sheet: 39 1/2 x 21 3/4 in., frame: 39 5/8 x 30 3/8 in.
Est: $30,000 - $50,000
ALMA WOODSEY THOMAS (American, 1891-1978) Untitled (from the My Garden Series) 1966, acrylic and watercolor on paper signed and dated A.W. Thomas 66 lower right
Grogan & Company
Apr. 27, 2024
Alma Thomas "Untitled" Offset Lithograph
Est: $500 - $1,000
Alma Thomas (1891-1978) was an African American artist known for her vibrant and abstract paintings that celebrated color, rhythm, and movement. Born in Columbus, Georgia, Thomas grew up in Washington, D.C., where she became a prominent figure in the city's arts community.Thomas initially pursued a career in education and worked as a schoolteacher for over three decades before retiring to focus on her art full-time in her late 60s. She drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including nature, music, and the work of other abstract artists.Thomas' paintings are characterized by their bold use of color and geometric shapes, as well as their rhythmic and dynamic compositions. She often worked on a small scale, creating intimate and intricately detailed works that invited viewers to immerse themselves in the rich textures and patterns.One of Thomas' most famous works is "Resurrection" (1966), which features a vibrant explosion of color radiating out from a central point. The painting reflects Thomas' belief in the transformative power of art and her commitment to creating joyous and uplifting works that celebrated life and creativity.In addition to her paintings, Thomas was also a dedicated teacher and mentor, and she played a significant role in nurturing and supporting the next generation of African American artists. She was a trailblazer in the field of abstract art and paved the way for future generations of artists to explore new forms of expression and creativity.Today, Alma Thomas is celebrated as one of the leading figures of the Washington Color School, a group of artists who emerged in the 1950s and 1960s and made significant contributions to the development of abstract art in America. Her work continues to be admired for its beauty, innovation, and emotional resonance, and she remains an inspiration to artists and art lovers around the world. Measures 38.0 x 50.20.
Morgan Auctions
Apr. 27, 2024
Alma Thomas "Tiptoe Through the Tupips, 1969" Offset Lithograph
Est: $500 - $1,000
Alma Thomas (1891-1978) was an African American artist known for her vibrant and abstract paintings that celebrated color, rhythm, and movement. Born in Columbus, Georgia, Thomas grew up in Washington, D.C., where she became a prominent figure in the city's arts community.Thomas initially pursued a career in education and worked as a schoolteacher for over three decades before retiring to focus on her art full-time in her late 60s. She drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including nature, music, and the work of other abstract artists.Thomas' paintings are characterized by their bold use of color and geometric shapes, as well as their rhythmic and dynamic compositions. She often worked on a small scale, creating intimate and intricately detailed works that invited viewers to immerse themselves in the rich textures and patterns.One of Thomas' most famous works is "Resurrection" (1966), which features a vibrant explosion of color radiating out from a central point. The painting reflects Thomas' belief in the transformative power of art and her commitment to creating joyous and uplifting works that celebrated life and creativity.In addition to her paintings, Thomas was also a dedicated teacher and mentor, and she played a significant role in nurturing and supporting the next generation of African American artists. She was a trailblazer in the field of abstract art and paved the way for future generations of artists to explore new forms of expression and creativity.Today, Alma Thomas is celebrated as one of the leading figures of the Washington Color School, a group of artists who emerged in the 1950s and 1960s and made significant contributions to the development of abstract art in America. Her work continues to be admired for its beauty, innovation, and emotional resonance, and she remains an inspiration to artists and art lovers around the world. Measures 39.8 x 38.0.
Morgan Auctions
Apr. 27, 2024
Alma Thomas "Untitled, 1972" Offset Lithograph
Est: $500 - $1,000
Alma Thomas (1891-1978) was an African American artist known for her vibrant and abstract paintings that celebrated color, rhythm, and movement. Born in Columbus, Georgia, Thomas grew up in Washington, D.C., where she became a prominent figure in the city's arts community.Thomas initially pursued a career in education and worked as a schoolteacher for over three decades before retiring to focus on her art full-time in her late 60s. She drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including nature, music, and the work of other abstract artists.Thomas' paintings are characterized by their bold use of color and geometric shapes, as well as their rhythmic and dynamic compositions. She often worked on a small scale, creating intimate and intricately detailed works that invited viewers to immerse themselves in the rich textures and patterns.One of Thomas' most famous works is "Resurrection" (1966), which features a vibrant explosion of color radiating out from a central point. The painting reflects Thomas' belief in the transformative power of art and her commitment to creating joyous and uplifting works that celebrated life and creativity.In addition to her paintings, Thomas was also a dedicated teacher and mentor, and she played a significant role in nurturing and supporting the next generation of African American artists. She was a trailblazer in the field of abstract art and paved the way for future generations of artists to explore new forms of expression and creativity.Today, Alma Thomas is celebrated as one of the leading figures of the Washington Color School, a group of artists who emerged in the 1950s and 1960s and made significant contributions to the development of abstract art in America. Her work continues to be admired for its beauty, innovation, and emotional resonance, and she remains an inspiration to artists and art lovers around the world. Measures 51.01 x 38.0.
Morgan Auctions
Mar. 23, 2024
Attributed to Alma W. Thomas (American, 1891-1978) oil
Est: $600 - $900
Rainbow III oil on Masonite, 1964, bears signature, date and titled verso, framed. 18 x 24"
Rachel Davis Fine Arts
Mar. 17, 2024
AN ACRYLIC ON CANVAS BY ALMA THOMAS, AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTIST
Est: $4,000 - $6,000
Acrylic on canvas by Alma Thomas, African-American artist. Titled: "Spring Flowers at Night", dated '69. Signed on the verso: Alma W. Thomas, 1530 15th St., N.W. Wash., D.C. TOP; Acrylic, 32" x 36. Provenance: purchased by the current owner from a private collector/dealer in Spain, it was previously owned by a private individual from Washington, DC. Footnote: Alma Woodsey Thomas (September 22, 1891 – February 24, 1978) was an African-American artist and teacher who lived and worked in Washington, D.C., and is now recognized as a major American painter of the 20th century. Thomas is best known for the "exuberant", colorful, abstract paintings that she created after her retirement from a 35-year career teaching art at Washington's Shaw Junior High School.
Helios Auctions
Feb. 27, 2024
Alma Thomas, 1891-1978 (Columbia)
Est: £20,000 - £40,000
Alma Woodsey Thomas (1891-1978), Washington Color Field School. Abstraction, 1960. Oil on canvas, size 117 x 76 cm (46 x 30 inches), frame dimensions 121 x 80 cm (47 2/3 x 31 1/2 inches). Signed and dated lower right, signature on the verso. (Associated with the Washington, DC Color Field Painters of the 1970s, Alma Woodsey Thomas became the first black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art).
Cultural Traditions
Feb. 27, 2024
Alma Woodsey Thomas, 1891-1978 (Columbia)
Est: £100,000 - £200,000
Alma Woodsey Thomas (1891-1978), Washington Color Field School. Astronauts See, 1970. Oil on canvas, size 167,5 x 167,5 cm (66 x 66 inches), frame dimensions 173 x 173 cm (68 x 68 inches). Signed lower right and author's inscriptions on the verso.
Cultural Traditions
Dec. 14, 2023
ALMA THOMAS (1891-1978) Hello Dolly oil on canvas board 24 x 18 in. (60.9 x
Est: $20,000 - $30,000
ALMA THOMAS (1891-1978) Hello Dolly oil on canvas board 24 x 18 in. (60.9 x 45.7 cm.)
Christie's
Dec. 02, 2023
Alma Woodsey Thomas, 1891-1978, untitled
Est: $5,000 - $7,000
Alma Woodsey Thomas 1891-1978 untitled 1960-1970 watercolor on paper 5-3/4 x 7-1/4 inches initialed Provenance: private collection, Washington, D.C. (possibly acquired from the artist), private collection, Dallas, Texas. This work was included in a group of works by the artist sold in Texas in 2018. The property was split up, and along with another work was included a family note referencing Mr. James Porter, Washington, D.C., the curator of Alma Thomas' first exhibition at Howard University.
Black Art Auction
Nov. 11, 2023
ALMA WOODSEY THOMAS AMERICAN 1891-1978
Est: $10,000 - $20,000
Untitled, dated 1973, watercolor, 11 3/4 x 8 1/2 in (29.8 x 21.6 cm), framed 17 x 21 in (43.2 x 53.3 cm), signed lower right and dated 1973 PROVENANCE: Private collection St. Louis, MO.
Trinity International Auctions & Appraisals, LLC
Oct. 19, 2023
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978) Transcendental.
Est: $75,000 - $100,000
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978) Transcendental. Watercolor on cream Arches paper, 1965. 546x749 mm; 21 1/2x29 1/2 inches. With the Veritable Papier d'Arches Fin blindstamp. Signed and dated in ink, lower right recto. Titled in ink, upper left verso. Provenance: acquired from the Franz Bader Gallery, Washington, DC; private collection, Washington, DC (1968); thence by descent, private collection, Virginia. Exhibited: Alma Thomas: Recent Paintings, Franz Bader Gallery, Washington, DC, September 5 - 21, 1968, with the gallery exhibition label on a fragment of the back board. This important solo exhibition was the first for Alma Thomas in a commercial gallery. Transcendental is an excellent and large example of Alma Thomas important body of work on paper. The artist developed her abstraction in the 1960s first though watercolor - before painting in acrylic on canvas. The forms in Transcendental are echoed in many works from the 1960s in which Thomas explores light and color that suggest transformation, movement and rebirth. Several similar watercolors from this experimental period were included in the recent retrospective Alma W. Thomas: Everything is Beautiful. Feman/Walz pp. 212-214.
Swann Auction Galleries
Oct. 19, 2023
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978) Untitled.
Est: $5,000 - $7,000
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978) Untitled. Watercolor and pencil on cream wove paper, circa 1960s. 152x216 mm; 6x8 1/2 inches (image); 457x305 mm; 18x12 inches (sheet). Provenance: acquired from Adolphus Ealey, Washington, DC; Dr. Albert S. Bacon, Jr., Washington, DC; thence by descent, private collection, Washington, DC. An unsigned and apparently unfinished sketch in watercolor.
Swann Auction Galleries
Oct. 19, 2023
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978) Untitled.
Est: $30,000 - $40,000
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978) Untitled. Watercolor on soft cream wove paper, circa 1966-69. 476x616 mm; 18 3/4x24 1/4 inches. Provenance: acquired from Adolphus Ealey, Washington, DC; Dr. Albert S. Bacon, Jr., Washington, DC; thence by descent, private collection, Washington, DC. Adolphus Ealey was the curator of the Barnett-Aden Gallery in Washington, DC. from 1969 until 1989. Thomas had served on the board of the gallery with Ealey, and they remained close friends. This unsigned watercolor by Alma Thomas appears related in composition and palette to several of her more diaphanous abstractions, including the watercolor Leaves Outside a Window in Rain, 1966, and the acrylic paintings Red Tree in High Winter, 1968 and Fall Approaching, 1969.
Swann Auction Galleries
Oct. 19, 2023
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978) Etude.
Est: $50,000 - $75,000
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978) Etude. Acrylic on Arches paper, 1968. 546x749 mm; 21 1/2x29 1/2 inches. With the Veritable Papier d'Arches Fin blindstamp. Provenance: Dr. Albert S. Bacon, Jr., Washington, DC; thence by descent, private collection, Washington, DC. The frame has a hand-written inscription by Dr. Bacon on the frame's backing paper - supplying the title and date. This unsigned acrylic painting by Alma Thomas is from a series of acrylic works on paper made in 1968. Thomas began a series of abstractions based on her garden views as early as 1960 - many share the dominant blue color with added floral colors and black branches. In a well-known 1968 image, Thomas was photographed painting similar works on her studio table by photojournalist and friend Ida Jervis.
Swann Auction Galleries
Aug. 04, 2023
Alma Woodsey THOMAS (1891-1978) American
Est: $20,000 - $40,000
ALMA WOODSEY THOMAS (1891-1978) Washington ; Untitled abstract ; 1960 ; oil on canvas / framed ; dimensions 102 x 64 cm (40 x 24 in.) ; Signed and dated lower right corner ; Shipping to USA - DHL $650 , National post with tracking service $450 / Shipping to EU, Middle Assia - DHL $520 , National post with tracking service $380
Art-Torg
Jun. 03, 2023
OPTICAL AMERICAN WATERCOLOR PAINTING BY ALMA W THOMAS
Est: $100 - $150
Alma Woodsey Thomas, Afro American, 1891 to 1978, watercolor painting on paper depicting an abstract optical composition. Signed lower right. Circa: 1970s. Framed. Alma Thomas is known for Non objective-optical imagery painting, teaching. She is well known for her exuberantly colorful canvases filled with abstract shapes and patterns.Her work reflects a long study of color theory, watercolor, and abstraction, and even exploration of costume and marionette design. Thomas's early art was realistic, but while at Howard University she became fascinated by abstraction, based on the influence of her professors Lois Mailou Jones and James V. Herring. When she was invited to exhibit her art at Howard in 1966, at age 75, Thomas decided to experiment with a new approach, the type of painting for which she is best known today: large canvases filled with dense, irregular patterns made by brushes heavily laden with bright colors. She found inspiration in trees and flowers around her, often as seen from the windows of her Washington D.C home, as they flickered in changing light. She also liked to imagine seeing natural forms and patterns from a plane, and was fascinated by exploration of outer space. Her works from the 1970s include titles such as Launch Pad and Blast Off. In 2009, two paintings by Alma Thomas were selected by First Lady Michelle Obama for the White House. One of a kind artwork.
Antique Arena Inc
May. 20, 2023
Alma W. Thomas, 1891-1978, Still Life With Corn
Est: $100,000 - $200,000
Alma W. Thomas 1891-1978 Still Life With Corn c. 1954 oil on paper 17-1/2 x 23 inches initialed Label verso: "Exhibition: 'A Life in Art: Alma Thomas'...National Collection of Fine Arts, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., Lender: Â Max Robinson Illustrated: "Exhibition: 'A Life in Art: Alma Thomas'...National Collection of Fine Arts, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., p. 19 (No. 2 in catalog) Provenance: acquired directly from the artist by Max Robinson. Robinson was the first African American network news anchor in the United States.
Black Art Auction
May. 20, 2023
1949 Abstract Watercolor Signed Thomas
Est: $100 - $200
1949 Abstract Watercolor Signed Thomas. Possibly Alma Woodsey Thomas, African American (1891-1978). Overall Size: 23 5/8 x 30 1/2 in. Sight Size: 14 1/2 x 19 1/4 in. #1260 Location BC
Sarasota Estate Auction
May. 19, 2023
Untitled
Est: $80,000 - $120,000
Alma Woodsey Thomas 1891 - 1978 Untitled watercolor and graphite on paper 15 by 22 in. 38.1 by 55.9 cm. Executed circa 1972.
Sotheby's
May. 17, 2023
ALMA THOMAS (1891-1978) A Fantastic Sunset acrylic on canvas 48 x 48 in. (1
Est: $2,000,000 - $3,000,000
ALMA THOMAS (1891-1978) A Fantastic Sunset acrylic on canvas 48 x 48 in. (121.9 x 121.9 cm.)
Christie's
Mar. 25, 2023
ALMA WOODSEY THOMAS AMERICAN 1891-1978
Est: $4,500 - $6,500
Abstraction, oil on canvas, 18 x 24 in (45.7 x 61 cm), framed: 20 x 26 in (50.8 x 66 cm), signed lower right
Trinity International Auctions & Appraisals, LLC
Dec. 09, 2022
Alma Woodsey Thomas (American 1891-1978), Sparkling Dew on Spring Flowers, Acrylic on canvas, 24 x 36 in (61 x 91.4 cm)
Est: $300,000 - $500,000
Alma Woodsey Thomas (American, 1891-1978) Sparkling Dew on Spring Flowers Acrylic on canvas Signed A W Thomas and dated '68 l.r. and signed Alma W. Thomas, titled, inscribed 1530 15th Street NW and numbered 3B on verso; also with paper label remnant on stretcher with partial title and medium visible
Weschler's
Dec. 03, 2022
Alma Woodsey Thomas Abstract Painting
Est: $30,000 - $50,000
Lot is accompanied by a copy of the invoice issued by Art Dealer Miami, Miami, Florida, dated 3.15.2019. Provenance per the receipt: Artist | Collection of Charles Young, Washington, D.C. | Art Dealer Miami, acquired 2003.
Palm Beach Modern Auctions
Dec. 01, 2022
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978, AMERICAN) Carousel.
Est: $12,000 - $18,000
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978, AMERICAN) Carousel. Gouache on wove paper, 1946. 457x406 mm; 18x16 inches. Provenance: collection of the artist; thence by descent, private collection, Washington, DC. Exhibited: Alma W. Thomas: Everything is Beautiful, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, July 9 - October 3, 2021, The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, October 30, 2021 - January 23, 2022, Frist Art Museum, Nashville, TN, February 25 - June 5, 2022. Illustrated: Seth Feman and Jonathan Frederick Walz, Alma W. Thomas: Everything is Beautiful, 2021, p. 260.
Swann Auction Galleries
Dec. 01, 2022
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978, AMERICAN) Untitled.
Est: $35,000 - $50,000
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978, AMERICAN) Untitled. Watercolor on wove paper, circa 1970. 205x280 mm; 8x11 inches. Initialed AWT, lower right. Provenance: gift from the artist, private collection, Washington, DC; private collection, California.
Swann Auction Galleries
Dec. 01, 2022
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978, AMERICAN) Reflections.
Est: $450,000 - $650,000
ALMA W. THOMAS (1891 - 1978, AMERICAN) Reflections. Oil on cotton canvas, 1960. 1016x762 mm; 40x30 inches. Signed AW Thomas and dated 60, lower right recto. Signed Alma W. Thomas and inscribed 1530 15th St. NW, Washington, DC, upper right verso. Provenance: the James K. Hill Collection. Exhibited: Alma W. Thomas: Everything is Beautiful, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA, July 9, 2021 - October 3, 2021, The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, October 30, 2021 - January 23, 2022, Frist Art Museum, Nashville, TN, February 25 - June 5, 2022; Early Alma Thomas, Hemphill Gallery, Washington, DC, February 4 - April 1, 2017; Alma W. Thomas: Retrospective Exhibition, Gallery of Art, Howard University, Washington, DC, April 24 - May 17, 1966. (The painting is dated 1963 in the catalogue). Illustrated: Seth Feman and Jonathan Frederick Walz, Alma W. Thomas: Everything is Beautiful, 2021, p. 202. Reflections is a beautiful and important early abstraction by Alma Thomas, painted on the cusp of her brilliant painting career. In 1960, Thomas had just resigned from her position at Shaw Junior High School, ending a thirty five year art teaching career, beginning a full-time dedication to painting at the age of 69. Thomas had been painting for decades prior - developing a body of work from modernist portraits and still lifes towards abstraction in the late 1950s. This painting shows Thomas's embrace of abstraction by 1960, and the rich inspiration she found in nature - interests that would continue over the next eightteen years. Reflections' inclusion in both her first and most recent retrospectives, the 1966 Howard University exhibition and the 2021-22 traveling exhibition at Alma W. Thomas: Everything is Beautiful, organized by curators Seth Feman and Jonathan Frederick Walz, signifies this work's significance and how it defines this important formative period of Thomas's practice. Reflections' modernist composition is an excellent representative of Thomas's abstract painting from the early 1960s. Her abstractions from nature at this moment are characterized by saturated blue or red colors and punctuated by rapid brushstrokes and sgraffito or palette knife markings. This elegant composition is centered on a representation of color and light reflected in a river or pond, but is also punctuated with passages of early fall colors and suggestions of branches at the edges. Thomas had an affinity with the deep hue of ultramarine blue. Several paintings of the period, from The Stormy Sea, 1958, collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum to Blue Abstraction, 1961, Howard University Gallery of Art are centered on this expressive color. Reflections is also an important precursor to Thomas's later body of work centered on reflections found in nature. In 1964, this period of painting was interrupted by a severe attack of arthritis--an interval that led to her "mature" style and first retrospective at Howard University in 1966. Alma Thomas achieved unparalleled critical success and national public recognition in 1972 with her solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art, a first for an African American woman. Her interest in natural reflections of color continues in such later works as Late Night Reflections, 1972, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Pond - Spring Awakening, 1972, the Akron Art Museum and Snow Reflections on Pond, 1973, Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Swann Auction Galleries
Nov. 19, 2022
Alma W. Thomas, 1891-1978, untitled
Est: $800,000 - $1,200,000
Alma W. Thomas 1891-1978 untitled c. 1976 acrylic on canvas 28-3/4 x 16-3/4 inches signed Provenance: The Collection of Dr Diane Whitfield-Locke and Dr. Carnell Locke, Maryland Exhibited: Building on Tradition, The Collection of Dr. Dianne Whitfield-Locke and Dr. Carnell Locke, Hampton University Museum, October 12, 2013-Decmber 7, 2013. Literature: International Review of African American Art, vol. 24, 3B, Hampton University Museum, VA (illustrated)
Black Art Auction
Nov. 12, 2022
ALMA WOODSEY THOMAS AMERICAN 1891-1978
Est: $10,000 - $20,000
Abstraction, watercolor, 11 x 15 in (27.9 x 38.1 cm), framed 19 1/2 x 25 1/2 in (49.5 x 64.8 cm) , signed lower left, partial, VERSO painting garden composition in watercolor pictured on image 3
Trinity International Auctions & Appraisals, LLC
Sep. 07, 2022
Alma W. Thomas, Watercolor on Paper, Abstract
Est: $20,000 - $40,000
(American, 1891-1978) signed l.r. "Alma W. Thomas". Overall: 23"h x 27-1/2"w Sight: 14-1/2"h x 19"w Provenance: Ex-private collection, Dallas, Texas; Acquired from the above by the previous owner in 2019
Nye & Company
Jun. 12, 2022
Alma Woodsey Thomas, American Watercolor on Paper
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
Alma Woodsey Thomas, American (1891-1978) Painting Watercolor on Paper Signed Lower Right & Dated 1969. In Original Frame & Under Glass. Condition: Excellent. Dimensions: Sight- 23.5" x 17.5". Frame- 33" x 27". Provenance: From a Private Long Island, NY Collection Offered for the First Time in the Market in 40 Years. Please note the absence of a condition report does not imply that there are no condition issues with this lot. Please contact us for a detailed condition report.
World Auction Gallery
Apr. 05, 2022
Alma Thomas American, 1891-1978 Untitled
Est: $15,000 - $20,000
Alma Thomas American, 1891-1978 Untitled Acrylic on paper 6 3/8 x 8 3/4 inches (16.2 x 22.2 cm) This work bears an inscription on the reverse: Sketch by Alma W. Thomas/(1895-1978)/Given to Charles J. Robertson/2/19/80 by Miss J. Maurice Thomas,/Alma Thomas' sister. Date/of work is unknown, but/probably from her later years., and initialed by Mr. Charles J. Robertson C
DOYLE Auctioneers & Appraisers
Apr. 05, 2022
Alma Thomas American 1891-1978
Est: $6,000 - $9,000
Alma Thomas American 1891-1978 Untitled, circa early 1970s Initialed AWT (ll) Watercolor on paper Full sheet 10 1/2 x 8 inches (26.7 x 20.3 cm) This work bears the inscription: Given to me by Maurice/Thomas, Alma's sister./She thinks it may date/from the early 1970s./Charles Robertson/1-14-93/Property of/John Maurice Thomas C
DOYLE Auctioneers & Appraisers
Mar. 31, 2022
ALMA THOMAS (1891 - 1978) Untitled (Atmospheric Effects Series).
Est: $30,000 - $40,000
ALMA THOMAS (1891 - 1978) Untitled (Atmospheric Effects Series). Acrylic on heavy wove paper, 1971. 565x762 mm; 22 1/2x30 inches. Initialed "AWT" and dated in ink, lower right. Provenance: Anderson Fine Arts, Jersey City, NJ (late 1980s); private collection.
Swann Auction Galleries
Mar. 05, 2022
ALMA WOODSEY THOMAS AMERICAN 1891-1978
Est: $10,000 - $20,000
Untitled, (Abstraction), 1967, oil on board, 13 1/4 x 6 1/4 , (33.7 x 15.9 cm), framed 18 3/4 x 11 1/2 in (46.4 x 29.2 cm), signed lower left, signed, dated and titled additionally verso
Trinity International Auctions & Appraisals, LLC