Inspired by space exploration and the earthly delights of gardens and music, Alma Thomas created brilliant abstractions that place her among the most innovative American painters of the 20th century. Breaking from realism in the 1950s, she moved through abstraction and into expressionism before finding a niche in a mosaic compositional style and reveling in color theory. With vibrant works such as Starry Night and the Astronauts and Color Etude (or Spring Bouquet), Thomas improvised with light, color, rhythm, and an aerial perspective that interpreted her world in a new way. After over 40 years in education, Thomas retired and focused on her art, eventually becoming the first African American woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

With dazzling paintings like the 12 collected in this calendar, Thomas left her mark upon the history of Modern art.