Alma Thomas
Born in Columbus, Georgia in 1891, Alma Thomas dreamed of becoming an Architect, which as a woman was very unheard of. Her family moved to Atlanta following radical racial violence and rioting in 1906, which led to Thomas attending Howards University, and becoming their first fine arts graduate in 1924. Whilst her artwork started off as focused in realism, her mentors pushed her to experiment more in abstract artwork, leading to her more known and vibrant pieces which was her signature style, and was often compared to Byzantine Mosaics. Her artwork gained so much notoriety that she became the first black woman to have work acquired in the White House, establishing her as an icon and inspiration to black, female, and older artists alike.
Read More: https://nmwa.org/art/artists/alma-woodsey-thomas/
Image Sources: Top Image: Alma Thomas © Michael Fischer, 1976
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/alma-woodsey-thomas
Bottom Image: Alma Thomas alongside works (Collage) Momaa
https://momaa.org/alma-thomas/?srsltid=AfmBOophbtTgMhAMf3Rvn_nSyAG0d63lQELH9bom4I6Ojk-M5L6zpKax