ROMARE BEARDEN

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(September 2, 1912, in Charlotte, North Carolina—March 11, 1988 in New York, New York)

Romare Bearden was an African-American artist and writer. He worked in several media including, cartoons, oils, and collage.

Bearden completed his studies at New York University (NYU), graduating with a degree in education. At NYU, Bearden took extensive courses in art and was a lead cartoonist and then art editor for the Eucleian Society monthly journal The Medley.

He studied under German artist George Grosz at the Art Students' League in 1936 and 1937. Shortly thereafter he began the first of his stints as a case worker for the New York Department of Social Services. During World War II, Bearden was in the United States Army, serving from 1942 until 1945.

During the 1940s, his style combined African culture and symbols with a stylized realism. Paintings such as his 1948, The Family demonstrate his interest in Cubism and the influence that the style had on his work. After a stay in Paris, Bearden's work became more abstract, using layers of oil paint to produce muted, hidden effects.

After spending time in Paris in the early 1950s and meeting James Baldwin, Brancusi, and George Braque, his work became more abstract. He began working in collage in the 1960s, abstracting and juxtaposing elements such as faces and masks to create archetypal images, particularly as they relate to aspects of Black life, culture, and history. Very important for his activities in promoting opportunities for, and chronicling the history of, African-American artists. Founder: 306 Group" for Black artists of Harlem, 1930s

During the 1960s civil rights movement, his focus shifted again, this time to collage, which is considered his best work. Excellent examples are in his 1963 series of collages, Prevalence of Ritual.

Exhibited: Harlem Art Center, 1937, 1939; American Art Gallery, 1938; McMillen Gallery, 1941; Downtown Gallery, NYC, 1941; Inst. of Modern Art, Boston, 1943; Smith College, 1943; Minneapolis Art Gallery; Columbus, OH, Mus. of Art; Albany Inst. of Hist.; Atlanta Univ., 1944; Samuel M. Kootz Gallery, NYC, 1945-47; G. Place Gallery, Wash., DC, 1945 (solo); PAFA, 1947, 1954; Corcoran Gal, 1947, 1966 (solo); AIC; Caresse Crosby Niveau Gallery, NYC, 1948; Barone Gallery, NYC, 1955; WMAA, 1955; Michael Warren Gallery, 1960; Ekstrom Gallery, 1961, 1964, 1967; Rockford Col., Ill., 1965; Fine Arts Gallery of San Diego, 1966; American Academy of Arts & Letters, 1966, 1972; Bundy Mus., Waitesfield, VT, 1967; Oakland Art Mus., CA, 1967; State Univ. of NY, Albany, 1968; J.L. Hudson Gallery, Detroit; Spelman Coll., Atlanta, 1968; Mus State Univ NY, Albany,1968 (solo); Dartmouth Coll., 1968; Williams Col., Williamstown, MA, 1969; RISD, 1969; Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester, 1969; Visual Arts Gallery, NYC; SFMA, 1969; Contemporary Arts Mus., Houston, 1970; NJ State Mus., 1970; Roberson Center for the Arts & Sciences, Binghampton, NY, 1970; UC Santa Barbara, 1970; National Center of Afro-American Artists, Boston, 1970; Tricia Karliss Gallery, Provincetown, MA, 1970; James A. Porter Gallery, 1970; BMFA, 1970; UC Mus. Art Berkeley, Calif, 10/1971(solo); Newark Mus., 1971; retrospective, MoMA, 3/1971-6/1971(solo); Univ. of Iowa, 1971-72; Sidney Janis Gal, 1972; Pace Gal, NYC, 1972; Cordier & Ekstrom Inc, NYC, 1970s; ACA Gal., NYC, 1989 (memorial exh.)