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Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

American, 1935-1989

Bernard Harmon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1935. He was primarily a portrait painter and a well-loved teacher in the Philadelphia area. A graduate of the Philadelphia Museum School and Temple University’s Tyler School of Art, Harmon traveled extensively in Europe and South America.

Beloved by many, Harmon taught in the Philadelphia School District for 32 of his 54 years of life. Beginning his career as an art teacher at West Philadelphia High School in the early 1960s, he became one of the district's artists-in-residence, traveling from school to school to demonstrate for students how an artist works. Returning to the classroom, Harmon joined the art department at Central High School where he taught for 14 years and became an innovator in its art curriculum, developing a program offering advanced placement art classes to gifted students. In his final years Harmon became a supervisor, mentoring teachers and overseeing programs in the Philadelphia school system’s District #1.

During his short life Harmon taught college preparatory art classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, summer classes at the University of the Arts, and a Saturday program for gifted children at Drexel University.

Among Harmon's portraits were commissioned by Philadelphia Jazz organist Jimmy Smith and Mayor Richardson Dilworth. The artist was active in promoting African American artists throughout his lifetime. He organized many early shows such as the "Afro American Artists 1800–1969" at the Museum of the Philadelphia Civic Center in 1969, and was considered a Renaissance man by friends and colleagues for his interests not only in art but music and theater as well. Harmon was familiar and friends with many other African American artists such as Doc Thrash, Selma Burke, Paul Keene Jr., Allen Freelon and Charles Searles.

Harmon's work reflects his love of his students and friends. His art has a loose expressionist style that can be related to the work of Alice Neel. A 2016 exhibition at Gratz Gallery & Conservation Studio was one of the largest offerings of Bernard Harmon’s work in many years.

Find original Bernard Harmon paintings and other art on 1stDibs.

(Biography provided by Gratz Gallery & Conservation Studio)

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Artist: Bernard Harmon
Girl with Flowerpot, Expressionist Portrait by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Girl with Flowerpot" is a portrait painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 40" x 36" oil on board portrait is painted in a vibrant color palette. The...
Category

1960s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Board, Oil

Patterns and Stripes, Expressionist Portrait by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Patterns and Stripes" is a painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 40" x 34" oil on board portrait of two figures is painted in a muted color palette. The painting is framed in a new, gold frame and signed "Harmon" on verso. Figurative expressionism in the style of Alice Neel. Bernard Harmon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1935. Harmon was primarily a portrait painter and a well loved teacher in the Philadelphia area. A graduate of the Philadelphia Museum School and Temples Tyler School of Art, Harmon traveled extensively in Europe and South America. Beloved by many, Harmon taught in the Philadelphia School District for 32 of his 54 years of life. Beginning his career as an art teacher at West Philadelphia High School, in the early 1960s he became one of the district's artists in residence, traveling from school to school to demonstrate for students how an artist works. Returning to the classroom, Harmon joined the art department at Central High School where he taught for 14 years and became an innovator in art curriculum, developing a program offering advanced placement art classes to gifted students. In his final years Harmon became a supervisor, mentoring teachers and overseeing programs in the Philadelphia school systems District #1. During his short life Harmon taught collage preparatory art classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, summer classes at the University of the Arts, and a Saturday program for gifted children at Drexel University. Among Harmon's portraits were commissioned by Philadelphia Jazz organist Jimmy Smith and Mayor Richardson Dilworth. Bernard Harmon was active in promoting African American Artist throughout his life time. He organized many early shows such as the "Afro American Artists...
Category

1970s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Two Girls in School, Expressionist Portrait by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Two Girls in School" is a painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 36" x 40.25" oil on board portrait of two figures is painted in a vibrant color palette. The painting is framed in a new, black wood frame and signed "Harmon" on verso. There is a second portrait the artist painted on the back of the painting. Figurative expressionism in the style of Alice Neel. Bernard Harmon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1935. Harmon was primarily a portrait painter and a well loved teacher in the Philadelphia area. A graduate of the Philadelphia Museum School and Temples Tyler School of Art, Harmon traveled extensively in Europe and South America. Beloved by many, Harmon taught in the Philadelphia School District for 32 of his 54 years of life. Beginning his career as an art teacher at West Philadelphia High School, in the early 1960s he became one of the district's artists in residence, traveling from school to school to demonstrate for students how an artist works. Returning to the classroom, Harmon joined the art department at Central High School where he taught for 14 years and became an innovator in art curriculum, developing a program offering advanced placement art classes to gifted students. In his final years Harmon became a supervisor, mentoring teachers and overseeing programs in the Philadelphia school systems District #1. During his short life Harmon taught collage preparatory art classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, summer classes at the University of the Arts, and a Saturday program for gifted children at Drexel University. Among Harmon's portraits were commissioned by Philadelphia Jazz organist Jimmy Smith and Mayor Richardson Dilworth. Bernard Harmon was active in promoting African American Artist throughout his life time. He organized many early shows such as the "Afro American Artists...
Category

1960s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Patterns and Shapes, Expressionist Portrait by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Patterns and Shapes" is a portrait painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 40" x 36" oil on board portrait is painted in a vibrant color palette. "St...
Category

1960s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Child Resting in Chair, Expressionist Portrait by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Child Resting in Chair" is a painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 41" x 35.75" oil on board portrait is painted in a vibrant color palette. The painting is framed in a new, black wood frame and signed "Harmon" on verso. Figurative expressionism in the style of Alice Neel. Bernard Harmon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1935. Harmon was primarily a portrait painter and a well loved teacher in the Philadelphia area. A graduate of the Philadelphia Museum School and Temples Tyler School of Art, Harmon traveled extensively in Europe and South America. Beloved by many, Harmon taught in the Philadelphia School District for 32 of his 54 years of life. Beginning his career as an art teacher at West Philadelphia High School, in the early 1960s he became one of the district's artists in residence, traveling from school to school to demonstrate for students how an artist works. Returning to the classroom, Harmon joined the art department at Central High School where he taught for 14 years and became an innovator in art curriculum, developing a program offering advanced placement art classes to gifted students. In his final years Harmon became a supervisor, mentoring teachers and overseeing programs in the Philadelphia school systems District #1. During his short life Harmon taught collage preparatory art classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, summer classes at the University of the Arts, and a Saturday program for gifted children at Drexel University. Among Harmon's portraits were commissioned by Philadelphia Jazz organist Jimmy Smith and Mayor Richardson Dilworth. Bernard Harmon was active in promoting African American Artist throughout his life time. He organized many early shows such as the "Afro American Artists...
Category

1970s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Girl with Ribbon in Hair, Expressionist Portrait by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Girl with Ribbon in Hair" is a painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 40" x 35.75" oil on board portrait is painted in a vibrant color palette and l...
Category

1970s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

School Girl, Expressionist Portrait by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"School Girl" is a portrait painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 41.75" x 35.75" oil on board portrait is painted in a vibrant color palette. The p...
Category

1960s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Not Speaking, Expressionist Portrait of Mother and Son by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Not Speaking" is a painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 36" x 40" oil on board portrait of a mother and her son is painted in a vibrant color pale...
Category

1960s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Girl Thinking, Expressionist Portrait of Young Woman by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Girl Thinking" is a painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 40" x 30" oil on board portrait of a young woman is painted in a vibrant color palette. The painting is framed in a new, black wood frame and signed "B Harmon" on verso. Figurative expressionism in the style of Alice Neel. Bernard Harmon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1935. Harmon was primarily a portrait painter and a well loved teacher in the Philadelphia area. A graduate of the Philadelphia Museum School and Temples Tyler School of Art, Harmon traveled extensively in Europe and South America. Beloved by many, Harmon taught in the Philadelphia School District for 32 of his 54 years of life. Beginning his career as an art teacher at West Philadelphia High School, in the early 1960s he became one of the district's artists in residence, traveling from school to school to demonstrate for students how an artist works. Returning to the classroom, Harmon joined the art department at Central High School where he taught for 14 years and became an innovator in art curriculum, developing a program offering advanced placement art classes to gifted students. In his final years Harmon became a supervisor, mentoring teachers and overseeing programs in the Philadelphia school systems District #1. During his short life Harmon taught collage preparatory art classes at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, summer classes at the University of the Arts, and a Saturday program for gifted children at Drexel University. Among Harmon's portraits were commissioned by Philadelphia Jazz organist Jimmy Smith and Mayor Richardson Dilworth. Bernard Harmon was active in promoting African American Artist throughout his life time. He organized many early shows such as the "Afro American Artists 1800 - 1969" at the Museum of the Philadelphia Civic Center in 1969. He was considered a Renaissance man by friends and colleagues for his interests not only in art but music and theater as well. He was familiar and friends with many other African American artists such as Doc Thrash, Selma Burke...
Category

1960s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Upright Bass, Expressionist Portrait of Musician by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Upright Bass" is a painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 40" x 34" oil on board group portrait of a musician is painted...
Category

1960s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Board, Oil

Drums, Expressionist Group Portrait of Three Musicians by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Drums" is a painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 34" x 40" oil on board group portrait of three musicians playing t...
Category

1960s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Jazz, Expressionist Portrait of Woman with Violin by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Jazz" is a figurative painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon from 1968. The 34" x 40" oil on board portrait features a young African American woman playi...
Category

1960s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Board, Oil

Seated Figure, Male Expressionist Portrait by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Seated Figure" is a painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 48" x 35.75" oil on board portrait is painted in energetic and bold brushstrokes, with vi...
Category

1960s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Self Portrait, Expressionist Figurative Portrait by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Self Portrait" is a painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 47" x 28.5" oil on canvas portrait features Harmon at a young age of about 25 years old. ...
Category

1960s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Modern Man, Expressionist Portrait in Red, White, and Blue
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Modern Man" is a painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 40" x 36" oil on canvas portrait features a young African American man posing casually and s...
Category

1970s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Striped Dress and Boy, Expressionist Portrait by Philadelphia Artist
By Bernard Harmon
Located in Doylestown, PA
"Striped Dress and Boy" is a painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon. The 41.75" x 35.75" oil on board portrait of two figures is painted in a vibrant colo...
Category

1970s Expressionist Bernard Harmon Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

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Bernard Harmon figurative paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Bernard Harmon figurative paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of figurative paintings to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue, orange and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Bernard Harmon in oil paint, paint, board and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Expressionist style. Not every interior allows for large Bernard Harmon figurative paintings, so small editions measuring 36 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Christina Major, Rolph Scarlett, and Masri Hayssam. Bernard Harmon figurative paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $18,000 and tops out at $24,000, while the average work can sell for $18,000.

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