Mildred Thompson’s conception of the natural world was entirely her own. She invented a visual language to depict both worldly and cosmic phenomena. Bright, energetic paintings tell stories about space, time, and sound. As a young artist, Mildred Thompson studied under James Porter at Howard University, in Washington, D.C. Yet even with an esteemed mentor, Thompson couldn’t find a gallery willing to represent her. In the 1960s, Thompson left the U.S. on a self-imposed exile, moving to Germany where her work became increasingly focused on forests. While other artists leaned into social politics, art for Thompson became an escape—a place to ask questions about the cosmos, and then, through the creation of her own language, provide answers. —Clara Molot