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.
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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
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
$3,971
H 29 in W 46 in
Huge 1950's Post-Cubist French Oil Painting Grey Nude Lady Sunbathing
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Large Post-Cubist Reclining Nude Interior Composition French Oil Painting by Laure Noetzin-Azam (French 1929-2024) pupil of André LHOTE oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 29 x 46 inches...
Oil
Chez La Modiste
By Jean François Thomas
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Jean Thomas 1923-2019 Signed and Dated Trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Lyon, Jean Thomas began exhibiting his works in 1946. His first paintings, influenced by the great ...
Oil
$2,206
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 ...
Burlap, Oil
$3,366
H 39 in W 32 in
Large 1950's French Post-Cubist Oil Painting Picasso Style Nude Portrait
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Artists Model by Laure Noetzin-Azam (French 1929-2024) pupil of André LHOTE oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 39 x 32 inches Provenance: all the paintings we have by this artist ...
Oil
$2,416
H 26 in W 20 in
1950's French Cubist Seated Figure Reading Newspaper Modernist Interior Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Cubist Seated Figure Reading Newspaper Modernist Interior Study by Jacques Courtade (1924–2010) French artist, mid-20th century Stamped verso oil on canvas, unframed Canvas: 26 x 20 ...
Oil
Charles Liberte, Cubist Seated Female Nude
Located in Astoria, NY
Charles Liberte (XX), Cubist Seated Female Nude, Oil on Canvas, signed to verso, unframed. 33" H x 25" W. Provenance: From the Allen Tucker Memorial Collection.
Canvas, Oil
$1,775
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
Lovers Together
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Christian Marche (1935-2008) was a prolific French artist best known for being one of the most significant pinball machine illustrators of the 1960s and 1970s. Pinball Illustration...
Canvas, Oil
$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
$3,702
H 39 in W 32 in
1950's French Atmospheric Moody Portrait Nude Lady Artists Model Interior Room
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Artists Model by Laure Noetzin-Azam (French 1929-2024) pupil of André LHOTE oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 39 x 32 inches Provenance: all the paintings we have by this artist ha...
Oil
$3,971
H 24 in W 39.5 in
1950's Post Cubist Seated Female Nude Interior Composition French Oil Painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Post Cubist Seated Female Nude Interior Composition French Oil Painting by Laure Noetzin-Azam (French, 1929–2024) signed oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 24 x 39.5 inches from the art...
Oil