6. Ernie Barnes

Ernest Eugene Barnes is considered on of the leading African-American painters and is well-known for the unique style of elongation and movement.                                        

Growing up, I would always see Ernie Barnes paintings in my family and friends homes. Never knowing who he was until I got into school. To the African American community Barnes paintings and artwork were a must have item. The attitudes, gestures and spunk of are race is expressed through his work.

Ernest Barnes also known as Ernie, was born in Durham, North Carolina. Barnes art interest started at a very tender age, where he was very educated about the masters of art. because segregation was around during this time he was unable to go to mainstream museums and really cherish the art. Even though art was a passion of Barnes when he graduated from Hillside High, he was also a skilled  athlete and had dozens of scholarship offers. He attend the all-Black North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University), majoring art.
He went on to play for a couple of different professional football team.  But as weird as this may sound, Barnes after he retried was a salaried player who painted instead playing. Jets owner Sonny Werblin hosted Barnes first solo exhibition in 1966, at Grand Central Art Galleries in New York City, were all the painting sold.
Barnes passed away in April of 2009, and his contributions and inspirations as a African American and Artist is greatly appreciated by me.

Barnes creates these figures that are doing regular actions, running, jumping, shooting a basketball and takes it to the next level, by exaggerating the movement or the height. I like the fact that proportion and scale adds excitement to his works as well.


Head over heels reminds me of a circus act, but he dosnet in a way that you can relate. When I was younger you took whatever was around you and made it out of fun. The figures who all seem to be the same person, are engaging in these entergetic movements. Eventhough the colors are plain and nothing really going on in the background, the painting comes to life.


Head over heels