Thelma Johnson Streat (1911-1959) was a ground-breaking African American painter, dancer, illustrator, and educator. Here are a few of Ms. Streat’s accomplishments:
* Worked with Mexican muralist Diego Rivera on his Pan American Unity mural in San Francisco (1939)
* First African-American woman to have a painting collected by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. (1942)
* Performed a dance recital at Buckingham Palace for the King and Queen of England. (1950)
* At age 18 years, received honorable mention in the Harmon Foundation Awards and had work exhibited at the International House in New York City. (1930)
* Started the Children’s City Art School of Hawaii to teach children the value of cultural diversity utilizing art. (1952)
* Headed the Children’s Education Project to introduce American youth to the contributions of Black Americans through a series of colorful murals. (1940s)
* She was one of the first visual artists to perform interpretive dance in front of her art, adding dimensions of motion, energy, and animation to otherwise static forms.
World personalities who have owned her work include Vincent Price, Roland Hayes, Diego Rivera, Fanny Brice, Katherine Dunham, and Paulette Goddard, etc.
-- Streat News --
SEE STREAT'S WORK IN PERSON!
Streat's mural study was
purchased for the permanent collection at the Smithsonian’s new National Museum
of African American History and Culture, the only national museum devoted
exclusively to the documentation of African American life, art, history, and
culture.
The History Detectives Investigate! View a feature episode on some mysterious artwork by Thelma Johnson Streat on the popular PBS television program.
FACEBOOK!
Look for us on Facebook and find out all of the latest Thelma-related happenings at THELMA ON FACEBOOK and join in the conversation.
OWN YOUR OWN STREAT!
Artwork is available from Streat's own Johnson Collection. Contact The Thelma Johnson Streat Project for details.
READ!
Seattle Times article or The Skanner article (October 2016) on Streat's work at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).
Read about Ms. Streat in the new 2010 publication “Modern Women: Women Artists at the Museum of Modern Art” (MOMA). Packing a whopping 528 pages, you can learn more about all the great modern female artists.
THE THELMA JOHNSON STREAT PROJECT was organized in 1991 to:
(2) distribute information on the artist, her life and various avenues of creativity;
(3) care for The Johnson Collection and make selected works available to museums and galleries for exhibits;
(4) promote Streat's ideals through sharing her story with others.
The Thelma Johnson Streat Project
P.O. Box 834
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
