Alma Thomas: Press Album

In this photograph by Matthew D’Agostino, chairman of the board of directors for the White House Historical Association, Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., speaks at a reception in the East Room on October 14, 2016. The reception, which also included remarks by First Lady Michelle Obama, celebrated the recent refurbishment of the Family Dining Room on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion. Mrs. Obama worked with the White House Historical Association as well as the Committee for the Preservation of the White House on the refurbishment, which updated the room to showcase modern art and design from the 20th century. Newly acquired artwork included “Study for Homage to the Square: Asking" and "Homage to the Square", both by Josef Albers, "Early Bloomer [Anagram (a Pun)]" by Robert Rauschenberg, and "Resurrection" by Alma Thomas. Theses four paintings as well as a wool rug by textile artist Anni Albers, were all placed the Family Dining Room upon completion of the refurbishment in 2015.

In this photograph by Matthew D’Agostino, First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at a reception in the East Room on October 14, 2016. The reception celebrated the recent refurbishment of the Family Dining Room on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion. Mrs. Obama worked with the White House Historical Association as well as the Committee for the Preservation of the White House on the refurbishment, which updated the room to showcase modern art and design from the 20th century. Newly acquired artwork included “Study for Homage to the Square: Asking" and "Homage to the Square", both by Josef Albers, "Early Bloomer [Anagram (a Pun)]" by Robert Rauschenberg, and "Resurrection" by Alma Thomas. Theses four paintings as well as a wool rug by textile artist Anni Albers, were all placed the Family Dining Room upon completion of the refurbishment in 2015. Behind Mrs. Obama is chairman of the board of directors for the White House Historical Association, Frederick J. Ryan, Jr.

In this photograph by Matthew D’Agostino, First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at a reception in the East Room on October 14, 2016. The reception celebrated the recent refurbishment of the Family Dining Room on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion. Mrs. Obama worked with the White House Historical Association as well as the Committee for the Preservation of the White House on the refurbishment, which updated the room to showcase modern art and design from the 20th century. Newly acquired artwork included “Study for Homage to the Square: Asking" and "Homage to the Square", both by Josef Albers, "Early Bloomer [Anagram (a Pun)]" by Robert Rauschenberg, and "Resurrection" by Alma Thomas. Theses four paintings as well as a wool rug by textile artist Anni Albers, were all placed the Family Dining Room upon completion of the refurbishment in 2015.

In this photograph by Matthew D’Agostino, First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at a reception in the East Room on October 14, 2016. The reception celebrated the recent refurbishment of the Family Dining Room on the State Floor of the Executive Mansion. Mrs. Obama worked with the White House Historical Association as well as the Committee for the Preservation of the White House on the refurbishment, which updated the room to showcase modern art and design from the 20th century. Newly acquired artwork included “Study for Homage to the Square: Asking" and "Homage to the Square", both by Josef Albers, "Early Bloomer [Anagram (a Pun)]" by Robert Rauschenberg, and "Resurrection" by Alma Thomas. Theses four paintings as well as a wool rug by textile artist Anni Albers, were all placed the Family Dining Room upon completion of the refurbishment in 2015.

This acrylic and graphite on canvas painting was done by Alma Thomas, who was an educator and artist in Washington, D.C. for most of her career. She was a member of the Washington Color School. This painting was unveiled as part of the White House Collection during Black History Month 2015 and is the first in this collection by an African-American woman. This painting was acquired for the White House Collection with support from George B. Hartzog, Jr., and the White House Acquisition Trust/White House Historical Association.

Titled "Resurrection," this acrylic and graphite on canvas painting was done by Alma Thomas in 1966, who was an educator and artist in Washington, D.C. for most of her career. She was a member of the Washington Color School. This painting was unveiled as part of the White House Collection during Black History Month 2015 and is the first in this collection by an African American woman. This photograph shows the painting on display in the Vermeil Room, during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations on November 30, 2020. The holiday theme for 2020 was “America the Beautiful,” which celebrated the natural wonders of the American landscape. Selected by First Lady Melania Trump, the White House decorations also paid tribute to the courage and resilience of frontline workers, members of the military, and other American heroes. In 2020, American frontline and essential workers faced unique challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This photograph of the Family Dining Room was taken by Matthew D'Agostino in 2016, during the Barack Obama administration. The Family Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. During their residence in the Executive Mansion, the Obamas oversaw the 2015 refurbishing of the dining room, incorporating modern art and design into the room. Among the selected pieces of work are the paintings "Early Bloomer [Anagram (a Pun)]" by Robert Rauschenberg on the west wall and "Resurrection" by Alma Thomas on the north wall. The wool rug was adapted from a pictorial weaving called "Black, White, and Gray" by Anni Albers.

This photograph of the Family Dining Room was taken by Matthew D'Agostino in 2015, during the Barack Obama administration. The Family Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. During their residence in the Executive Mansion, the Obamas oversaw the 2015 refurbishing of the dining room, incorporating modern art and design into the room. Among the selected pieces of work are the paintings "Early Bloomer [Anagram (a Pun)]" by Robert Rauschenberg on the west wall and "Resurrection" by Alma Thomas on the north wall. The wool rug was adapted from a pictorial weaving called "Black, White, and Gray" by Anni Albers.

This photograph of the Family Dining Room was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on July 27, 2016. The Family Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House. During their residence in the Executive Mansion, the Obamas oversaw the 2015 refurbishing of the dining room, incorporating modern art and design into the room. The Obamas also opened the room to public tours for the first time. Among the selected pieces of work was "Resurrection" by Alma Thomas, seen on the north wall.

This photograph of holiday decorations on display in the Vermeil Room was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on November 30, 2020 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. Above the mantel, the 1966 painting "Resurrection" by artist Alma Thomas is displayed. This was the first painting by an African American woman acquired for the White House Collection. The holiday theme for 2020 was “America the Beautiful,” which celebrated the natural wonders of the American landscape. Selected by First Lady Melania Trump, the White House decorations also paid tribute to the courage and resilience of frontline workers, members of the military, and other American heroes. In 2020, American frontline and essential workers faced unique challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This photograph of the holiday decorations in the Vermeil Room was taken by David Weigold during a press preview of the holiday decorations on November 29, 2021. The Vermeil room is named for the collection of gilded silver tableware on display in the room. During the holiday season, they are often incorporated into the room’s décor. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance. Decorations in the Vermeil Room celebrated the “Gift of the Visual Arts” with paintbrushes and paint swatches in a variety of vivid hues. Also visible is the painting "Resurrection" by Alma Thomas which was placed on an easel to complement the theme.

This photograph of the holiday decorations in the Vermeil Room was taken by David Weigold during a press preview of the holiday decorations on November 29, 2021. The Vermeil room is named for the collection of gilded silver tableware on display in the room. During the holiday season, they are often incorporated into the room’s décor. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance. Decorations in the Vermeil Room celebrated the “Gift of the Visual Arts” with paintbrushes and paint swatches in a variety of vivid hues. Also visible is the painting "Resurrection" by Alma Thomas which was placed on an easel to complement the theme.

This photograph of the holiday decorations in the Vermeil Room was taken by David Weigold during the press preview unveiling the holiday decorations on November 29, 2021. The Vermeil room is named for the collection of gilded silver tableware on display in the room. During the holiday season, they are often incorporated into the room’s décor. For their first year in the White House, President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden chose the theme, "Gifts from the Heart." The theme was meant to honor the things we cherish and bring us together despite the obstacles posed by a pandemic, time, and distance. Decorations in the Vermeil Room celebrated the “Gift of the Visual Arts” with paintbrushes and paint swatches in a variety of vivid hues. Also visible is the painting "Resurrection" by Alma Thomas which was placed on an easel to complement the theme.