Historically noted as the first professional American athlete to become a painter, the artistic legacy of football player Ernie Barnes still remains overlooked.
But now, as part of a long overdue survey, his art is on view in Ernie Barnes: A Retrospective, which runs at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles until 8 September. Over 50 paintings, photos and ephemera – including his football helmet, the chair from his studio, and his paintbrushes – are on view, detailing his career, hidden from the spotlight. This is despite creating album covers for Marvin Gaye, receiving a commissioned by Kanye West and being named the official artist of the 1984 Olympics.
“He’s not a part of art history,” said Bridget R Cooks, who co-curated the exhibition with Vida L Brown. “Barnes is not someone in any art history book that I own or have seen, but he has influenced thousands of people through the popular vehicles he accessed for his work.”
By Nadja Sayej, The Guardian
Featured Image, Ernie Barnes’ The Sugar Shack. Photograph: Courtesy of the Ernie Barnes estate.
Full Article @ The Guardian
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