The Zen of True Art
@thezenoftrueart.bsky.social
Real art by real people. International, independently sourced & verified.
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COVER: "Hilma af Klint - A Pioneer of Abstraction," 2013 exhibit; Photo: Asa Lunden/Moderna Museet. #art #abstractart #artmuseum #painting
“I’ve never bothered painting the ugly things in life...You meet that when you go out, and then you have to come back and see the same thing hanging on the wall. No. I wanted something beautiful that you could sit down and look at. And then, the paintings change you.” (Alma Thomas, SAAM)
February 19, 2026 at 5:30 PM
“I’ve never bothered painting the ugly things in life...You meet that when you go out, and then you have to come back and see the same thing hanging on the wall. No. I wanted something beautiful that you could sit down and look at. And then, the paintings change you.” (Alma Thomas, SAAM)
Alma Thomas, "Winter Shadows," watercolor and ink on canvas, c.1960; National Gallery of Art. #blackhistorymonth #blackartist #blackhistory #blackculture #africanamerican #abstract #abstractart #abstractpainting #art #arte #modernart #museum #artgallery
February 19, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Alma Thomas, "Winter Shadows," watercolor and ink on canvas, c.1960; National Gallery of Art. #blackhistorymonth #blackartist #blackhistory #blackculture #africanamerican #abstract #abstractart #abstractpainting #art #arte #modernart #museum #artgallery
Though Thomas attended the 1963 March on Washington, [she] did not overtly engage [with] the civil rights movement. Instead, she emphasized beauty’s restorative power: “Through color, I have sought to concentrate on beauty and happiness, rather than on man’s inhumanity to man.” (Smithsonian)
February 19, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Though Thomas attended the 1963 March on Washington, [she] did not overtly engage [with] the civil rights movement. Instead, she emphasized beauty’s restorative power: “Through color, I have sought to concentrate on beauty and happiness, rather than on man’s inhumanity to man.” (Smithsonian)
Ida Jervis, photograph of artist Alma Thomas (1891-1978); Smithsonian American Art Museum. (Painting is "Portrait of a Lady," 1947, by Laura Wheeler Waring; SAAM.) #blackhistorymonth #blackartist #blackhistory #blackculture #africanamerican #art #arte #modernart #famousartist #museum #artgallery
February 19, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Ida Jervis, photograph of artist Alma Thomas (1891-1978); Smithsonian American Art Museum. (Painting is "Portrait of a Lady," 1947, by Laura Wheeler Waring; SAAM.) #blackhistorymonth #blackartist #blackhistory #blackculture #africanamerican #art #arte #modernart #famousartist #museum #artgallery
In 1972, Thomas became the first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney. Reflecting on her segregated childhood, she said, “One of the things we couldn’t do was go into museums, let alone think of hanging our pictures there. My, times have changed. Just look at me now.” (Smithsonian)
February 19, 2026 at 5:21 PM
In 1972, Thomas became the first Black woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney. Reflecting on her segregated childhood, she said, “One of the things we couldn’t do was go into museums, let alone think of hanging our pictures there. My, times have changed. Just look at me now.” (Smithsonian)
Alma Thomas, "Tiptoe Through the Tulips," acrylic on canvas, 1969; National Gallery of Art. #blackhistorymonth #blackartist #blackhistory #blackculture #africanamerican #abstract #abstractart #abstractpainting #art #arte #modernart #museum #artgallery
February 19, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Alma Thomas, "Tiptoe Through the Tulips," acrylic on canvas, 1969; National Gallery of Art. #blackhistorymonth #blackartist #blackhistory #blackculture #africanamerican #abstract #abstractart #abstractpainting #art #arte #modernart #museum #artgallery
Frits Thaulow (Norwegian, 1847-1906), "Small Town near La Panne, Belgium," oil on canvas, c.1905; photo: Bonhams. #landscape #art #painting #paintings #oilpainting #oiloncanvas #scenic #arte #peintures #museum #artgallery
February 18, 2026 at 9:08 PM
Frits Thaulow (Norwegian, 1847-1906), "Small Town near La Panne, Belgium," oil on canvas, c.1905; photo: Bonhams. #landscape #art #painting #paintings #oilpainting #oiloncanvas #scenic #arte #peintures #museum #artgallery
Vu Cao Dam (Vietnam, 1908-2000), "Lady with Cherry Blossom," gouache on silk, c.1950; photo: Sotheby's. #vietnam #portrait #flowers #gouache #paintings #peintures #art #arte #modernpainting #museum #artgallery
February 18, 2026 at 6:35 PM
Vu Cao Dam (Vietnam, 1908-2000), "Lady with Cherry Blossom," gouache on silk, c.1950; photo: Sotheby's. #vietnam #portrait #flowers #gouache #paintings #peintures #art #arte #modernpainting #museum #artgallery
"A scene...including Dante, Cimabue, Michelangelo, Pope Julius II and Raphael, in historical dress...The arches are inscribed...'Venice', 'Florence', and 'Rome'. Beyond the arches are recognisable landmarks which further identify... the lagoon, the Palazzo Vecchio and St Peter's." (Gallery notes)
February 18, 2026 at 6:27 PM
"A scene...including Dante, Cimabue, Michelangelo, Pope Julius II and Raphael, in historical dress...The arches are inscribed...'Venice', 'Florence', and 'Rome'. Beyond the arches are recognisable landmarks which further identify... the lagoon, the Palazzo Vecchio and St Peter's." (Gallery notes)
Walter Crane, "The Apotheosis of Italian Art," watercolor and gouache on paper, c.1885-86; Manchester Art Gallery, U.K. #art #paintings #traditionalart #traditionalpainting #watercolor #gouache #peintures #arte #museum #artgallery #classicalart
February 18, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Walter Crane, "The Apotheosis of Italian Art," watercolor and gouache on paper, c.1885-86; Manchester Art Gallery, U.K. #art #paintings #traditionalart #traditionalpainting #watercolor #gouache #peintures #arte #museum #artgallery #classicalart
Martin Lewis, "Which Way?" aquatint, 1932; Detroit Institute of Arts. #printmaking #aquatint #art #arte #bandw #blackandwhite #monochrome #scenic #winter #snow #prints #museum #artgallery
February 18, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Martin Lewis, "Which Way?" aquatint, 1932; Detroit Institute of Arts. #printmaking #aquatint #art #arte #bandw #blackandwhite #monochrome #scenic #winter #snow #prints #museum #artgallery
Fernando Botero (1932-2023), "Flowers," oil on canvas, 1970; photo: Christie's. #botero #modernart #art #flowers #stilllife #abstract #abstractpainting #oiloncanvas #arte #peintures #paintings #museum #artgallery
February 18, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Fernando Botero (1932-2023), "Flowers," oil on canvas, 1970; photo: Christie's. #botero #modernart #art #flowers #stilllife #abstract #abstractpainting #oiloncanvas #arte #peintures #paintings #museum #artgallery
Photograph of artist Hughie Lee-Smith (1915-1999); African American Registry. "I think my paintings have to do with an invisible life—a reality on a different level." #blackhistorymonth #blackculture #blackhistory #africanamerican #art #arte #famousartist #museum #artgallery
February 18, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Photograph of artist Hughie Lee-Smith (1915-1999); African American Registry. "I think my paintings have to do with an invisible life—a reality on a different level." #blackhistorymonth #blackculture #blackhistory #africanamerican #art #arte #famousartist #museum #artgallery
"Recognized as one of the most important African-American painters of his generation, Lee-Smith created dreamlike landscapes populated with enigmatic, solitary figures, and explored what he once described as 'a shifting back and forth between that which is patently artificial and the real.'" (Flint)
February 18, 2026 at 5:51 PM
"Recognized as one of the most important African-American painters of his generation, Lee-Smith created dreamlike landscapes populated with enigmatic, solitary figures, and explored what he once described as 'a shifting back and forth between that which is patently artificial and the real.'" (Flint)
Hughie Lee-Smith, "Beach Scene," oil on Masonite, 1953; Flint Institute of Arts. #blackhistorymonth #blackculture #africanamerican #africanheritage #art #arte #modernart #paintings #oilpainting #peintures #museum #artgallery
February 18, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Hughie Lee-Smith, "Beach Scene," oil on Masonite, 1953; Flint Institute of Arts. #blackhistorymonth #blackculture #africanamerican #africanheritage #art #arte #modernart #paintings #oilpainting #peintures #museum #artgallery
Claude Monet, "Palm Tree at Bordighera," oil on canvas, 1884; photo: Sotheby's. #monet #impressionist #impressionism #impressionistpainting #oilpainting #peintures #paintings #art #arte #landscape #enpleinair #modernart #museum #artgallery
February 17, 2026 at 9:24 PM
Claude Monet, "Palm Tree at Bordighera," oil on canvas, 1884; photo: Sotheby's. #monet #impressionist #impressionism #impressionistpainting #oilpainting #peintures #paintings #art #arte #landscape #enpleinair #modernart #museum #artgallery
Richard Diebenkorn, "Berkeley No.63," oil on canvas, 1956; photo: Richard Diebenkorn Foundation. #art #arte #diebenkorn #abstract #abstractart #modernart #postwarart #paintings #peintures #oilpainting #museum #artgallery
February 17, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Richard Diebenkorn, "Berkeley No.63," oil on canvas, 1956; photo: Richard Diebenkorn Foundation. #art #arte #diebenkorn #abstract #abstractart #modernart #postwarart #paintings #peintures #oilpainting #museum #artgallery
John Singer Sargent, "Corner of the Church of San Stae, Venice," oil on canvas, 1913; photo: Christie's. #singersargent #paintings #peintures #art #arte #oilpainting #modernart #scenic #venice #museum #artgallery
February 17, 2026 at 9:06 PM
John Singer Sargent, "Corner of the Church of San Stae, Venice," oil on canvas, 1913; photo: Christie's. #singersargent #paintings #peintures #art #arte #oilpainting #modernart #scenic #venice #museum #artgallery
"A Garden Scene," [Anon., Iran], gouache with gold on paper, prob. 19th century; photo: Christie's. #iran #persia #persian #middleeast #gouache #garden #paintings #peintures #arte #art #museum #artgallery
February 17, 2026 at 8:51 PM
"A Garden Scene," [Anon., Iran], gouache with gold on paper, prob. 19th century; photo: Christie's. #iran #persia #persian #middleeast #gouache #garden #paintings #peintures #arte #art #museum #artgallery
Barboza’s photographs...[include] deeply felt observations of racial injustice and economic inequities, innovative fashion photography that helped redefine African-American aesthetics and representation, and...revelatory portraits of celebrities and fellow creatives. (New Bedford Art Museum)
February 17, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Barboza’s photographs...[include] deeply felt observations of racial injustice and economic inequities, innovative fashion photography that helped redefine African-American aesthetics and representation, and...revelatory portraits of celebrities and fellow creatives. (New Bedford Art Museum)
Photographer Anthony Barboza (b.1944); image: Musée Magazine. #blackhistorymonth #blackculture #blackhistory #africanheritage #photography #bandw #blackandwhite #monochrome #famousartists #art #museum #artgallery
February 17, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Photographer Anthony Barboza (b.1944); image: Musée Magazine. #blackhistorymonth #blackculture #blackhistory #africanheritage #photography #bandw #blackandwhite #monochrome #famousartists #art #museum #artgallery
Anthony Barboza (African-American, b. 1944), "Grace Jones," c.1971-79; image: Keith de Lellis Gallery, NY. #blackhistorymonth #photographer #blackhistory #blackculture #africanheritage #gracejones #bandw #blackandwhite #monochrome #famousartist
February 17, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Anthony Barboza (African-American, b. 1944), "Grace Jones," c.1971-79; image: Keith de Lellis Gallery, NY. #blackhistorymonth #photographer #blackhistory #blackculture #africanheritage #gracejones #bandw #blackandwhite #monochrome #famousartist
Marc Chagall, "The Circus," oil on canvas, 1927; National Gallery Prague. #chagall #modernart #abstractart #paintings #peintures #oilpainting #oiloncanvas #circus #art #arte #museum #artgallery
February 16, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Marc Chagall, "The Circus," oil on canvas, 1927; National Gallery Prague. #chagall #modernart #abstractart #paintings #peintures #oilpainting #oiloncanvas #circus #art #arte #museum #artgallery
Lionel Lindsay, "The Night Heron," engraving, 1935; National Gallery Victoria. #bird #engraving #printmaking #bandw #blackandwhite #monochrome #prints #art #arte #museum #artgallery
February 16, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Lionel Lindsay, "The Night Heron," engraving, 1935; National Gallery Victoria. #bird #engraving #printmaking #bandw #blackandwhite #monochrome #prints #art #arte #museum #artgallery
Cuno Amiet, "Farm Garden," coloring on asbestos cement plate, 1904; Solothurn Art Museum. #garden #landscape #scenic #art #modernart #arte #peintures #paintings #museum #artgallery
February 16, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Cuno Amiet, "Farm Garden," coloring on asbestos cement plate, 1904; Solothurn Art Museum. #garden #landscape #scenic #art #modernart #arte #peintures #paintings #museum #artgallery