Art

Alma Thomas Way: Washington, D.C. Renames a Block for Its Brightest Colorist

Discover how Washington, D.C. honors trailblazing painter Alma Thomas with the newly named “Alma Thomas Way.” Walk the block, learn her story, and plan your tribute to the woman who turned everyday life into a riot of color.

Por: Angela Leon Cervera May 31, 2025

Alma Woodsey Thomas - "Alma's Flower Garden" (1968 - 1970). Photo: JR P

Washington, D.C. has many commemorative avenues, but none celebrated its most radiant home-grown modernist—until now.

On April 29, 2025, the city installed “Alma Thomas Way” signs at both ends of the 1500 block of 15th Street NW. This block is where Thomas lived, taught, and painted for seven decades.

Councilmember Christina Henderson introduced the renaming bill. The council approved it unanimously, and Mayor Muriel Bowser signed it. The goal is to remind visitors and locals whose studio once pulsed inside the red-brick rowhouse at 1530.

Quick Timeline

• 1907 – Thomas’s parents bought 1530 15th St. NW.

• 1924 – She became the first fine-arts graduate of Howard University.

• 1943 – She co-founded and served as vice president of Barnett-Aden Gallery, one of the nation’s first Black-owned commercial art spaces. This gallery helped launch many African American artists when mainstream galleries excluded them.

• 1960s–70s – From her kitchen studio, she painted mosaic-like abstractions. These works later appeared at the Whitney Museum (1972) and entered the White House collection.

• 2025 – The street was officially renamed Alma Thomas Way. The dedication ceremony took place on April 28 with family members, city officials, and Friends of Alma Thomas.

What to See on a Two-Minute Stroll

• 1530 15th Street NW – This private residence is where Thomas mixed pigments on her stovetop and tacked canvases to the wall. Please admire it from the sidewalk only.

• Street-Sign Selfie Spots – Find new green signs at 15th & Church St. and 15th & Q St. Capture the sign with Thomas’s former rowhouse in the background.

• Nearby Shaw Landmarks – Walk five minutes south to the historic Shaw Junior High School building, where Thomas taught art for 35 years.

Legacy in Living Color

Thomas’s joyful, staccato brushwork inspired generations. Her peers in Washington’s Color School and today’s pixel-driven abstractionists admire her.

In 2021, her painting Asterisk #15 sold for $2.8 million at Christie’s, showing strong collector demand. That same year, a national traveling retrospective showcased her work. The White House added her paintings to its permanent collection.

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Did You Know?

• Thomas’s 1972 Whitney solo made her the first Black woman to headline the museum.

• She played opera records while painting, letting the music’s tempo guide her brush.

• She was a committed community organizer. She hosted art clubs for neighborhood children in her parlor.

Alma Thomas transformed everyday D.C. light into cascades of tangerine, cerulean, and lemon. Now the city honors her by engraving her name on the very street that nurtured her genius. Next time you cross 15th Street NW, look up. Those fresh green signs point to a legacy that radiates far beyond the block.

Alma Thomas Way

Can I tour the house? No. The residence is privately owned. Please respect the occupants and photograph only from public spaces.
Where else can I see her paintings in D.C.? The National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and The Phillips Collection all display major works by Thomas.
Why name a street instead of a park or school? Councilmember Henderson says that renaming a street ensures daily, visible contact with residents and visitors. It turns navigation apps into mini history lessons.
Is this tied to Black Lives Matter Plaza? Although the legislation is unrelated, the renaming highlights D.C.’s commitment to honoring Black cultural legacies amid broader debates about public-space commemoration.