Bernard Harmon

The Potter, Expressionist Portrait of a Young Man by Philadelphia Artist

1950's

"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...

"Fashion Girl" is an oil on board portrait painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon of a stylishly dressed woman sitting on a chair. This work features a se...

"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. ...

"Boy Waiting" is an oil on board portrait painting by Philadelphia born Expressionist painter Bernard Harmon of a young man with somber expression, sitting on a chair. This work features a second environmental portrait on verso. The painting is 41.75" x 35.75" in size and is signed "Harmon" on verso. Figurative expressionism in the style of Alice Neel. Provenance: Estate of the Artist; Gratz Gallery & Conservation Studio, Doylestown, Pennsylvania. 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...

Masri is a passionate Italian, US-based artist whose work has been exhibited in USA, the UK, Germany, Lebanon, Italy and Norway. His work is varied and known especially in Europe, an...

Hal Frater's "The Artist as a Young Man" is a striking oil on canvas that captures the essence of the artist himself, rendered in a raw, emotive style. The palette is earthy, with natural browns and creams contrasted against subdued blues and hints of muted red, evoking a sense of both the mundane and the profound. Frater's use of color and form reflect a contemplative mood, a moment of introspection. The artist's gaze is direct and unflinching, suggesting resilience and a deep inner life. This mid-20th-century piece, evocative of American Realism, offers a personal narrative, exploring themes of identity and self-perception. Frater’s technique—visible brushstrokes and a textured application of paint—adds a tangible depth to the work, inviting the viewer to consider the artist's inner world and the time in which he lived. About the Artist: Hal Frater was not just an artist, but a storyteller who left us on February 3, 2008, on the cusp of his 99th birthday. His fifty-year tenure as a commercial artist was a testament to his adaptability and appeal. Yet it was in his private studio where Frater’s true passion lay — painting not for clients, but for his own soul's expression. His work, always striving to capture the nuances of the human spirit, reflected his sharp observational skills. His artistry was honed not in formal schools, but alongside his peers in spontaneous gatherings, painting from life, sharing techniques and critiques that fueled their collective growth. Influenced by the likes of Jack Levine, Raphael Soyer, John Sloan, Thomas Hart Benton, Reginald Marsh, and Phillip Reisman...

Masri is a passionate Italian, US-based artist whose work has been exhibited in USA, the UK, Germany, Lebanon, Italy and Norway. His work is varied and known especially in Europe, an...

"Personaje" (seated) acrylic on canvas painting by Southern California artist Mike Rivero. Personaje (sitting) is painted in blue, green, pink, red, black white, orange, set on a tau...