“Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas from the Smithsonian American Art Museum” is debuting at the Denver Art Museum on September 8. Thomas, a groundbreaking African American artist, earned Howard University’s first-ever fine art degree in 1924 and continued her career as an art educator in public schools for three decades before winning acclaim at age 80 with trailblazing exhibitions. She was the first Black woman to have a solo show at New York’s Whitney Museum and to have her work included in the White House Collection.

The exhibition focuses on themes of space, earth and music, and Thomas’ nature-inspired, abstract paintings are lively compositions bursting with color and energy. It’s a can’t-miss chance to experience the historic artist’s kaleidoscopic work firsthand and to dive into a dazzling sensory world.