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Ernie Barnes Art

American, 1938-2009

Ernie Barnes was an American painter whose artwork reflected African-American lifestyles. As a skilled athlete in numerous sports during his early years of age, Barnes went on to play professional football, and after a five year career, he decided to retire from the sport and paint full-time. It is apparent in his work that he was searching for the perfect medium between racial and ethnic harmony, and many of his paintings reflect it. Barnes continues today to be one of the most widely collected African-American painters of his time.

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Artist: Ernie Barnes
Destination Unknown, Ernie Barnes
By Ernie Barnes
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Earnie Barnes (1938-2009) Title: Destination Unknown Year: 1979 Medium: Lithograph on archival paper Size: 25 x 19.5 inches Edition: 120/300, plus proofs Condition: Good Insc...
Category

1970s American Realist Ernie Barnes Art

Materials

Lithograph

Destination Unknown 1979 Signed Limited Edition Lithograph
By Ernie Barnes
Located in Rochester Hills, MI
Artist: Ernie Barnes Title: Destination Unknown Year: 1979 Print - Lithograph Size: 25" x 19 ½" inches Edition: Pencil signed and numbered 24/300 Unframed ‘Destination Unknow...
Category

1970s American Realist Ernie Barnes Art

Materials

Lithograph

Destination Unknown, Ernie Barnes
By Ernie Barnes
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
Lithograph on vélin paper. Paper Size: 19.5 x 25 inches. Inscription: Hand signed and numbered, 170/300, as issued. Notes: Published by London Arts, Inc., Detroit; printed by Z. Rather, Detroit, in an edition of CCC, 1979. ERNIE BARNES (1938–2009) was an American artist. Barnes grew up in Durham, North Carolina, during the Jim Crow era. His mother encouraged him to read art...
Category

1970s Pop Art Ernie Barnes Art

Materials

Lithograph

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Destination Unknown, Ernie Barnes
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Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games (One-on-One) Poster (Signed)
By Ernie Barnes
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Ernie Barnes (American, 1938-2009) Title: "Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games (One-on-One)" Series: Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games Posters *Signed by Barnes in pencil lower right Year: 1984 Medium: Original Offset-Lithograph, Poster on heavy textured wove paper Limited edition: 64/300. (There was also an unsigned edition of unknown size) Printer: Unknown Publisher: Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, Los Angeles, CA Sheet size: 34" x 22.13" Image size: 31.5" x 21.07" Condition: One tiny tear and light crease upper left corner in margin. Light undulation to lower area of sheet. In otherwise very good condition with strong colors Very rare Notes: Provenance: private collection - personal friend of the artist, Los Angeles, CA; acquired directly from the artist. Numbered by Barnes in pencil lower left. Barnes did sign examples from an extended run of this poster in black marker for guests at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, however there is only one official limited edition run of 300 in pencil as offered here. The Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee named Barnes Sports Artist of the 1984 Olympic Games. LAOOC President Peter V. Ueberroth said Barnes and his art “captured the essence of the Olympics” and “portray the city’s ethnic diversity, the power and emotion of sports competition, the singleness of purpose and hopes that go into the making of athletes the world over.” Barnes was commissioned to create five Olympic-themed paintings and serve as an official Olympic spokesman to encourage inner city youth. Specific sports served as central themes in four of the posters, with community involvement the theme of the fifth poster. The posters were entitled: "The Rhythmic Gymnast" (Gymnastics), "The Finish" (Track and Field), "One-on-One" (Basketball), "Winning" (Boxing) and "The Neighborhood Games". This example here, "One-on-One" depicting two basketball players is arguably the most desirable of the five. GIA Gallery Poster Disclaimer: Not to be confused with thousands of contemporary inkjet/giclée/digital reproductions ignorantly or deliberately passed off as originals on the market today. The examples we offer here are the original period vintage (exhibition) posters, created and designed by, or under the supervision and authorization of the artist or their respective estate (posthumously), for various exhibitions and events in which they participated. If applicable, this poster is also fully documented within its respective artists' official catalogue raisonné of authentic graphic works, prints, and or posters. Biography: Ernie Barnes (1938-2009) was an American painter, actor, and football player best known for his depictions of figures in motion. His compositions, often filled with crowds of people, were intended to promote racial harmony by showing people from different backgrounds standing side-by-side. “I am bound by the strongest ties with the organic life of all people,” the artist has said. “And being an artist has created in me the desire to continually affirm beauty.” Barnes is commonly associated with the painting The Sugar Shack, inspired by the popular sitcom Good Times, which depicts a crowd of people dancing in a jazz club, their bodies twisting and serpentine. Born on July 15, 1938 in Durham, NC, Barnes began to experiment with painting while studying at North Carolina College. After playing in the National Football League for five years, the artist was hired by Sonny Werblin to be the official artist of the New York Jets...
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1980s Contemporary Ernie Barnes Art

Materials

Lithograph, Offset

Destination Unknown, Ernie Barnes
By Ernie Barnes
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
ERNIE BARNES (1938-2009) An American painter whose artwork reflected African-American lifestyles. As a skilled athlete in numerous sports during his early...
Category

1970s Pop Art Ernie Barnes Art

Materials

Lithograph

In the Beginning /// Ernie Barnes North Carolina Basketball African American Art
By Ernie Barnes
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Ernie Barnes (American, 1938-2009) Title: "In the Beginning" *Signed by Barnes in pencil lower right Year: 1978 Medium: Original Offset-Lithograph on textured wove paper Limited edition: 301/750 Printer: Unknown Publisher: Unknown Sheet size: 20" x 25.94" Image size: 14.57" x 20.07" Condition: Never framed, has been stored away for decades. Undulation to sheet mainly at lower right. Some minor edge wear and scattered tiny foxmarks or surface marks about sheet. It is otherwise in good condition with strong colors Notes: Provenance: private collection - Jasper, GA. Titled and numbered by Barnes in pencil lower center and lower left respectively. Retains an old certificate of authenticity. Old price pencil inscribed lower right. This scene depicts a young man playing basketball in Durham, North Carolina where Barnes was born and spent his childhood, however it is unknown if he is the figure in the image. This print reproduces an acrylic painting on canvas by Barnes from about 1970 bearing the same title, "In the Beginning". This work is one of the artist's best known paintings and an iconic basketball image. In a rural country yard, a tall, lanky adolescent throws a ball toward the make-shift hoop, dedicated to practicing his skills. The original painting is in the permanent collection of the Brigham Young University Museum of Art, Provo, UT. Biography: Ernie Barnes (1938-2009) was an American painter, actor, and football player best known for his depictions of figures in motion. His compositions, often filled with crowds of people, were intended to promote racial harmony by showing people from different backgrounds standing side-by-side. “I am bound by the strongest ties with the organic life of all people,” the artist has said. “And being an artist has created in me the desire to continually affirm beauty.” Barnes is commonly associated with the painting The Sugar Shack...
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1970s Contemporary Ernie Barnes Art

Materials

Lithograph, Offset

Destination Unknown
By Ernie Barnes
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
An original signed offset-lithograph on white smooth wove paper by American artist Ernie Barnes (1938-2009) titled "Destination Unknown", 1979. Hand pencil signed by Barnes lower right and numbered lower left. It is also signed in the plate (printed signature) lower right. Limited edition: 203/300. Printer unknown and likely published by Z. Rather. Believed publisher's inkstamp "Copyright Z. Rather, 1979" center left on verso. Pencil inscribed dealer reference number lower right on verso. Sheet size: 19.75" x 25.25". Image size: 16.75" x 22.25". Never framed, has been professionally stored away for decades. In mint condition. Notes: This scene is of Durham, North Carolina where Barnes was born and spent his childhood, however he is not the figure in the image. The original painting is in a private collection. Ernie Barnes (1938-2009) was an American painter, actor, and football player best known for his depictions of figures in motion. His compositions, often filled with crowds of people, were intended to promote racial harmony by showing people from different backgrounds standing side-by-side. “I am bound by the strongest ties with the organic life of all people,” the artist has said. “And being an artist has created in me the desire to continually affirm beauty.” Barnes is commonly associated with the painting The Sugar Shack...
Category

1970s Realist Ernie Barnes Art

Materials

Lithograph, Offset

Destination Unknown, Ernie Barnes
By Ernie Barnes
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Earnie Barnes (1938-2009) Title: Destination Unknown Year: 1979 Medium: Lithograph on archival paper Size: 25 x 19.5 inches Edition: 300, plus proofs Condition: Excellent Inscription: Signed and numbered by the artist in pencil ERNIE BARNES...
Category

1970s American Realist Ernie Barnes Art

Materials

Lithograph

Destination Unknown, Ernie Barnes
By Ernie Barnes
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Earnie Barnes (1938-2009) Title: Destination Unknown Year: 1979 Medium: Lithograph on archival paper Size: 25 x 19.5 inches Edition: 300, plus proofs Condition: Excellent Inscription: Signed and numbered by the artist in pencil ERNIE BARNES...
Category

1970s American Realist Ernie Barnes Art

Materials

Lithograph

Destination Unknown, Ernie Barnes
By Ernie Barnes
Located in Auburn Hills, MI
ERNIE BARNES (1938-2009) An American painter whose artwork reflected African-American lifestyles. As a skilled athlete in numerous sports during his early...
Category

1970s Pop Art Ernie Barnes Art

Materials

Lithograph

Ernie Barnes art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Ernie Barnes art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Ernie Barnes in lithograph, offset print and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 20th century and is mostly associated with the Pop Art style. Not every interior allows for large Ernie Barnes art, so small editions measuring 20 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Corita Kent, Popo and Ruby Lee, and Frank Wootton. Ernie Barnes art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $700 and tops out at $4,400, while the average work can sell for $4,400.

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Questions About Ernie Barnes Art
  • 1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024
    How much an Ernie Barnes painting is worth varies based on its condition, history and other factors. In 2022, his painting The Sugar Shack sold for a record-setting $15.275 million at an auction in New York. Barnes was an American painter whose artwork reflected on African American life. Barnes is one of the most widely collected African American painters of his time. If you own a Barnes, consult a certified appraiser or experienced art dealer for assistance with valuation. On 1stDibs, explore a diverse assortment of Ernie Barnes art.

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