Lava Thomas facts for kids

Lava Thomas (born 1958) is an American artist. She was born and grew up in Los Angeles, California. Her artwork often explores important ideas about women's experiences and social fairness. She also looks at how history is told and understood.

Lava Thomas's Art Career

Lava Thomas creates art that makes people think. She focuses on themes like what it means to be a woman. Her art also highlights the importance of social justice for everyone. She often looks at how historical events are remembered and discussed.

In 2015, the city of San Francisco chose Lava Thomas for a special project. She was asked to create a monument honoring the famous writer Maya Angelou. There were some disagreements about the design at first. However, in 2019, the city confirmed its original choice of Lava Thomas. They even issued a public apology to her. This showed how much they valued her as an artist.

Lava Thomas has also shown her art in many places. In 2015, she had her own show at the Museum of the African Diaspora. In 2018, she presented a powerful series of portraits. These artworks were called Mugshot Portraits: Women of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. They honored the brave women who took part in the 1955–1956 Montgomery bus boycott. This boycott was a major event in the American Civil Rights Movement.

Where You Can Find Her Art

Lava Thomas's artwork is part of several important art collections. These include the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Her pieces are also held by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. You can also find her work at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Group Exhibitions

Lava Thomas has also participated in many group art shows.

• In 2021, she was part of The Black Index. This exhibition was held online due to COVID-19 rules. It was shown by the University of California, Irvine (CAC Gallery). The show featured her work alongside other artists like Dennis Delgado and Alicia Henry.