Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an acrylic drawing by Alma Woodsey Thomas. It dates from 1968 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1968, this untitled work by Alma Woodsey Thomas combines acrylic pigment with paper fragments adhered by pressure-sensitive tape and staples. The piece is classified as a drawing and is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
Subject & Meaning
The composition consists of a series of vertical, column-like forms built from small, colored paper pieces in reds, blues, greens, and yellows. The densely packed strips generate a rhythmic, almost architectural pattern that invites contemplation of repetition and color interaction.
Technique & Style
Thomas employed a collage method, cutting paper into irregular shapes, arranging them in tight rows, and securing them with tape and staples. Acrylic paint applied over the assembled fragments adds a unifying surface while preserving the tactile, layered texture of the underlying collage.
History & Provenance
The work entered the Museum of Modern Art’s collection shortly after its creation, reflecting the institution’s interest in experimental mixed-media practices of the late 1960s. It remains on view as an example of Thomas’s exploration of materiality and surface.
Context
During the late 1960s, artists increasingly incorporated everyday materials into fine art, blurring the line between painting and assemblage. Thomas’s use of paper, tape, and staples aligns with this broader movement toward process-oriented, non-traditional media.
Artist & collection
Artist
Alma Woodsey Thomas was an American artist and art teacher who lived and worked in Washington, D.C., and is now recognized as a major American painter of the 20th century.
