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.
Romare Bearden Original Watercolor Cityscape Painting
By Romare Bearden
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Artist: Romare Bearden Title: Untitled Medium: Original Watercolor on Paper Size: Sheet measures 9.375" x 12.675" Year: c. 1980 Inscription: Signed in pencil on front upper left Fort...
Paper, Watercolor
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
$1,950
H 15.5 in W 16 in D 1 in
“Untitled, 1946” New Hope Modernist Small Abstract Bucks County Lambertville NJ
By Louis Stone
Located in Yardley, PA
“Untitled, 1946” by Louis K. Stone (1902-1984). A strong and charming example of mid-century American modernism by one of the most important artists working in New Hope, PA. This wa...
Paper, Watercolor
Russian Cubist Portrait of a Woman
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Beautiful cubist portrait of a woman by unknown Russian artist. Oil on canvas measures 17 x 25 inches. Signed and dated lower right. Label fragments affixed on verso.
Canvas, Oil
Her Reflection
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, Wood Panel
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
$5,636
H 23.63 in W 19.3 in
Modern Cubist Still Life with Natural Palette, Oil and Acrylic Painting, 60x49cm
Located in PÉRIGUEUX, FR
Nature Morte aux Fruits (Still Life with Fruit) Oil and acrylic on canvas 60 × 49 cm Nature Morte aux Fruits revisits the traditional still life through a structured, cubist constru...
Canvas, Acrylic, Oil
$1,438
H 15.36 in W 11.23 in D 1.58 in
Domenico Morelli 19th Century Orientalist Watercolor
By Domenico Morelli
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful and interesting watercolor painting on paper attributed to the great Neapolitan artist Domenico Morelli. It depicts one of his favorite subjects, namely an oriental woman c...
Watercolor, Paper
$1,510Sale Price|30% Off
H 25.99 in W 19.69 in D 1.19 in
1970s Italian Signed Modern Abstract Painting by Riccardo Licata
By Riccardo Licata
Located in Roma, IT
Important watercolour on paper 'Untitled' by the great Italian artist Riccardo Licata. Dated and signed at lower right "74 Licata". This work is representative at the highest level ...
Paper, Watercolor
$2,278
H 36.23 in W 25.6 in D 1.19 in
Cubist-Inspired Female Portrait, Oil on Canvas, Early 20th Century Inspiration
By Menachem Gueffen
Located in NANTES, FR
This Cubist-inspired portrait of a woman was created by the painter Menachem Gueffen. Faithful to the artist’s figurative-expressionist style, this oil on canvas is distinguished by ...
Oil, Burlap
$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
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
The Burning Port
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....
Wood, Adhesive, Oil
$590
H 40 in W 28 in
Abstracted Letter Sunset, Vintage Miami Style Colors, Earth Tones Figures
By Natalia Roman
Located in Barcelona, ES
"Abstracted Letter Sunset" is an abstract painting by Spanish artist Natalia Roman. These color field paintings are inspired by both modernist shapes of ...
Acrylic, Gouache, Paper