Little Paris Studio Group

The Little Paris Studio Group: Friendship, Community and Practice in Mid-Century Washington, D.C.

Our volume documents this important collective, the locations where they worked and exhibited, and the relationships between the artists. It also includes short biographies of each of the 39 artists – that we know of so far! They are all listed below. We hope to include a photograph of each and images of their artwork wherever possible. To do so, we will be reaching out on Instagram over the next few months to connect with families and legacy holders. If you have information on any of these artists, we would love to hear from you!

Little Paris Group in Loïs Jones’ studio, 1948. Alma Thomas papers, circa 1894-2001. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution; inscribed Kay-Dee Photo.

The Little Paris Studio Group was formed by artists Loïs Mailou Jones and Céline Tabary, modeled after their salon experiences in Paris. They set up a space in Jones’ attic in Washington DC for weekly meetings. A place for these artists to nurture a continued artistic practice, many of whom were full-time educators or government workers.

Publication projected Winter 2024.

Artists in the Little Paris Studio Group

Velma Boone Alexander

Elting O. Holmes Banks

S. Bruce Brown

Robert Bruce [guest artist, 1952]

Barbara Buckner Gwaltney

Doris Butts

Dorothy Moten Crawford

Robert A. Daniel [guest artist, 1954]

Richard Dempsey [guest artist, 1951]

Harry Friedman

Elizabeth Parr Gathings

Laertes Gillis

Frances Moore Grant

Edith (Louise) Harris

Earl J. Hooks

Alberta Horton

James W. Jones

Loïs Mailou Jones

Barbara Linger Stewart

Osceola Madden

Georgia Mills Jessup

Joseph Murdock

Mildred Teixeira Nash

Russell Nesbit [model]

William Hope Payne

Delilah Williams Pierce

Donald H. Roberts

Lucille (Malkia) Roberts

Betty Shadd Graine

Dr. Alonzo DeGrate Smith

Céline Tabary

Alma W. Thomas

Charles A. Thompson

Desdemona Wade Morales

William E. Weir

Frank West, Jr.

Marion Sumner Westmoreland

Elizabeth Bennett Williamson

Carolyn Evans Wright

Artist names are found in at least one of the following:

1st Annual Exhibition (1951) [AAA, Alma Thomas papers, Box 2, Folder 40; AAA, Richard Dempsey papers, Box 2, Folder 47]

2nd Annual Exhibition (1952) [DC History Center E0212]

4th Annual Exhibition (1954) [Howard University, Loïs Mailou Jones papers, Box 215-16, Folder 51]

Photo of “Little Paris Group” (likely 1950-51) [dated 1948 in AAA, Alma Thomas papers, Box 2, Folder 40]

“Lois Mailou Jones and Her Former Students 1930-1995: An American Legacy.” (1995 catalogue) includes note on the Little Paris Studio group & notation of some of the artists involved [Howard University, Loïs Mailou Jones papers, Box 215-1, Folder 16]

NOT YET FOUND: 3rd Annual Exhibition (1953) [reference exists in 8 June 1953 letter from Tabary to LMJ, Howard University, Loïs Mailou Jones papers, Box 215-10, Folder 2]