Romare Bearden was an inventive American modern artist whose unique visual style set him apart. Working with a variety of media, Bearden made paintings distinguished by a bold use of color and rich texture. His figurative, landscape and portrait prints had influences ranging from Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso to traditional Japanese, Chinese and African art.
Bearden was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1911. He pursued a degree in education and attended Lincoln University, Boston University and New York University. At New York University he began taking courses in art. During his time there, he served as the art editor and lead cartoonist at a journal called The Medley. To further his creative passions, Bearden attended the Art Students League of New York. From 1935 to 1937, he was the editorial cartoonist for the Baltimore Afro-American.
Bearden worked as a social worker from the mid-1930s until the 1960s. He continued creating art during his evenings and weekends and began exhibiting in solo shows across the United States in the 1940s. Bearden would go on to exhibit throughout Europe.
Bearden was a prolific writer on social issues, and his words complemented his art. He was active in African American advocacy groups and helped found important community art venues and organizations like the Harlem Cultural Council in 1964 and the Studio Museum in Harlem in 1968. He also published books on art and African American art history.
Bearden earned many prestigious honors, including honorary doctorates from Davidson College, Atlanta University, Carnegie Mellon University and Pratt Institute. Bearden also received the New York City Mayor’s Award of Honor for Art and Culture in 1984 and the National Medal of Arts in 1987, presented by President Ronald Reagan. He died in New York City on March 12, 1988.
Today, Bearden's work is held in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
On 1stDibs, find Romare Bearden’s prints, paintings, mixed media and more.
Price Upon Request
The Soul Never Dwells in a Dry Place
By Romare Bearden
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Romare Bearden, American (1911 - 1988) Title: The Soul Never Dwells in a Dry Place Date: October, 1946 Medium: Oil on Masonite, signed l.l. Size: 24 in. x 31 in. (60.96 ...
Oil
$2,582
H 36 in W 29 in
Fine 20th Century French Modernist Cubist Nude Woman Oil Painting Portrait
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Cubist Nude by Laure Noetzin-Azam (French 1929-2024) pupil of André LHOTE oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 36 x 29 inches signed verso Provenance: all the paintings we have by this ar...
Oil
French Cubist Portrait of a young girl
By Alain Mettais Cartier
Located in Woodbury, CT
Mattais Cartier (French, circa 1910–1960) Cubist Figure with Raised Arm, 1947 Oil on canvas, signed and dated lower right Executed in 1947, this bold and architectonic composition ...
Oil
Dark Thunder
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pascal Jarrion was born in 1961 in Perpignan, France, a region known for its Catalan culture as well as its influence on artists before him, including Picasso, Van Gogh, and Maillol....
Oil, Panel
Reclining Figure Mid Century Modern Cubist Painting C.1950s
Located in San Francisco, CA
Fantastic 1950's Cubist Oil Painting by Mystery Artist. Though undated, this is a classic 1950's painting. A reclining figure under the sun. Original cubist oil painting on masonit...
Oil
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
H 37 in W 39 in D 1 in
Virility (framed original painting)
Located in Aventura, FL
Original oil painting on machine made colored paper. Hand signed and dated on front by Ottorino Mancioli. Artwork size: 25.5 x 27.1 inches. Frame size: 37 x 39 inches. The pain...
Paper, Oil
$5,857
H 41 in W 34 in
Bathing Nudes, 20th Century Signed French Painting, Cubist Inspired
Located in London, GB
Oil on canvas, signed lower left Circa 1930 Image size: 41 x 34 inches (104 x 86 cm) Framed
Oil, Canvas
$795
H 29 in W 41 in D 3 in
Mid Century Modern Cubist Painting w/ Figures of Children by Spurlock c.1950
Located in San Francisco, CA
Mid century modern figural abstract painting with a touch of cubism. Original oil on canvas. Dimensions 35 1/2" x 23 1/2". Frame dimensions 41" x 29". Very good vintage conditi...
Canvas, Oil
$950
H 36 in W 1 in D 36 in
(Untitled) Filipina Woman with Pottery, in Beige, Black & Tan
Located in San Francisco, CA
Manilla-born painter Francisco “Paco” Gorospe (1939-2002) took a detour with this piece. Normally working with colors to rival any spring flower garden, h...
Canvas, Oil
After Pablo Picasso’s 1929 “Reclining Woman”
By (after) Pablo Picasso
Located in San Francisco, CA
This is an incredible painting done after Picasso 1929 reclining woman painting. That painting is locatedin a museum somewhere in Europe I believe. This o...
Oil
$29,500
H 60 in W 40 in D 3 in
"A Time For Her" by Yuroz, 60"x40", Original Oil on Panel, Monochromatic Sepia
By Yuroz
Located in Dallas, TX
In this stunning piece by the renowned artist Yuroz, beautifully encapsulates the timeless themes of love and romance. This artwork invites you to witness a lover's serenade, where a...
Oil, Wood Panel
$620Sale Price|20% Off
H 15 in W 19 in D 1 in
Antique American Modernist Cubist Ballet Dancers Framed Original Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Very finely executed modernist ballet scene. Pastel and gouache on paper. Handsomely framed. Image size, 12H by 16L.
Canvas, Oil
Rendez-Vous
By Miette Braive
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Belgian artist Miette Braive(1916-2000), was classically trained in Belgium, before moving to Paris to pursue her art career as first a student and then a contemporary of the French ...
Oil