Smith College Museum of Art

09/01/2026

New on view! Have you seen Younes Rahmoun's brass sculpture, "Markaba (Vessel)"? It is now in the lower level galleries alongside related diagrammatic drawings and other artworks. Explore the presence of light and shape through line, three dimensions, and text, in both Arabic and English.

Image 1: Younes Rahmoun. Moroccan (born 1975). "Markaba-Zafir-Chahiq (Vessel-Exhilation-Inhalation," 2016. Ink and graphite on recycled paper.
[Description: Drawing on off-white paper with black ink showing two central geometric forms rendered with a bold line.]

08/29/2026

“[The work] is really dynamic, really unique. I think once you’ve seen some of her work, it becomes instantly recognizable, which is a very hard thing for an artist to achieve, and it’s very experimental,” said Emma Chubb, the show’s organizing curator and the museum’s recently appointed associate director of curatorial affairs. “It feels really alive and vibrant half a century after it was made.”

Artist Alma Thomas was famous for her signature brushstrokes — or, as she called them, “Alma’s stripes” — yet these marks transcend simple lines. At times, they mimic the view of nursery plants arranged in neat rows from above. In other pieces, they resemble terrace tilework, forming shape...

08/27/2026

Listen while you look. Alma Thomas was greatly inspired by music and often listened to mixtapes while she painted. One of Alma Thomas's wishes was for people to view her artwork while listening to the music that inspired it. In SCMA's "Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas from the Smithsonian American Art Museum," there are headphones in the gallery so you can do just this.

Each set of headphones has three stations to tune into.
💿 Channel 1 is a collection of songs that Alma Thomas listened to while painting.
📼 Channel 2 is WOZQ's (Smith College's student–run radio station) playlist inspired by Alma Thomas.
🌿 Not feeling like traditional music? Immerse yourself in natural sounds and field recordings from and around the Smith campus on channel 3.

[Image 1: Two people sit on a bench with headphones on looking at artwork.]

08/25/2026

We are just one month away from the 2026 SCMA Fall Reception! Join us in celebrating "Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas from the Smithsonian American Art Museum," and experience Thomas's radiant use of color and the joyful vision that shaped her singular artistic practice this September 25, 5–7 p.m.

Along with the artwork, enjoy an evening of refreshments, friends, and the galleries as you explore these luminous paintings.

Painting: Alma Thomas, "Elysian Fields," 1973, acrylic on canvas, 30 1/8 x 42 1/4 in. (76.5 x 107.2 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum. Bequest of the artist, 1980.36.8

[Image 1 description: An image with blue and white abstract painting on the top and on the bottom text that reads, "Fall Reception, September 25, 2026, 5–7pm.]

08/18/2026

What could've been a obstacle, led way to a new groundbreaking style. After retirement, Alma Thomas struggled with arthritis, and even had to consider giving up painting. But when Howard University offered to mount a retrospective of her work in 1966, she decided to try something new. With her arthritis in mind, she brought to life her abstract marking-making known as "Alma's stripes" and continued painting.

Experience these mosaic-like stripes in person, on view at SCMA as part of "Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas from the Smithsonian American Art Museum," through January 10, 2027. Plan your trip today.

Alma Thomas, "Celestial Fantasy," 1973. Acrylic on canvas, 60 x 54 in. (152.4 x 137.2 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum. Bequest of the artist, 1980.36.11

[Description: A painting covered with mosaic-like blue stripes over a colorful, pink, yellow, and teal background.]

08/17/2026

Thanks to all those who attended Second Friday this month! We had a great time celebrating Alma Thomas and teachers alike. Special shoutout to Tiphareth Ananda from Campus School of Smith College, for leading a wonderful bookmark-making exercise, The Community Classroom for setting up with their fabulous Traveling Space Trailer, 🪐✨ and Lynne Dole of The Smith College Department of Education and Child Study for all their collaboration.

Support provided by Art Bridges and Mass Cultural Council. Second Friday is a part of Arts Night Out Northampton with Downtown Northampton Association.

[Image 1: A person smiles at the camera at a table of people making art.]

[Image 2: People stand around tables outside full of activities and colorful signs.]

08/14/2026

Today, August 14 Second Friday, from 4–8 p.m., step on board the Traveling Space Trailer, Community Classroom’s mobile learning hub—a whimsical, space-themed pop-up space where kids can explore, create, read, and discover through STEAM activities. 🚀

Create solar system necklaces, glow-in-the-dark constellation art, and grab a temporary tattoo! Plus experience a pop-up social justice reading room and imagine yourself in space!

Photos and video courtesy of The Community Classroom.

Support provided by Art Bridges and Mass Cultural Council. Second Friday is a part of Arts Night Out Northampton with Downtown Northampton Association.

08/13/2026

Meet Tiphareth Ananda from the Campus School of Smith College. Tiphareth is leading this month's Second Friday art making activity, and has a message for fellow teachers this summer! ☀️ Be sure to join in, this Second Friday has something for everyone. See you at August 14 Second Friday!

Support provided by Art Bridges and Mass Cultural Council. Second Friday is a part of Arts Night Out Northampton with Downtown Northampton Association.

[Video description: Closeup of a person talking outside.]

08/12/2026

Having FOMO about seeing the total solar eclipse? Well, you can see one made by Alma Thomas at SCMA. Experience "The Eclipse" by Alma Thomas, inspired by one of the world's most wondrous natural phenomena. It's part of the exhibition "Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas from the Smithsonian American Art Museum." No safety glasses needed!

On view Tuesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. and free to all.

Alma Thomas. "The Eclipse," 1970. Acrylic on canvas. Gift of the artist. Smithsonian American Art Museum.

[Image 1: Person standing in front of a painting of colorful concentric circles of colors made with dashes, starting with dark blue at center, followed by light blue dashes, oranges, red, yellow, and a dark blue circular center.]