Artist Feature: Ernie Barnes

Biography

Ernie Barnes was born on July 15, 1938 in Durham, North Carolina. His parents were Ernest E. Barnes and Fannie Mae Geer. He lived with his parents and a younger brother in a town called the Bottom, a community near Hayti District (citation).  His mother managed the household staff for Frank L. Fuller Jr., Durham attorney and Board of Education member. When his mother brought him to work as a little boy not yet in the first grade, Fuller encouraged Barnes to listen to classical music and look through art books. He took that advice and nurtured his interest in art history throughout primary school. During highschool at Highside Hill, a segregated school,  he started to play football. He received 26 athletic scholarships. He attended the North Carolina College at Durham (now North Carolina Central University) played football and majored in art. After college he began a professional football career. His career lasted 5 years from 1960-1965 and ended with an injury. Shortly after his professional art career began, although he sold his first painting in 1959 during college. He wanted to become a sport’s artist, at first the football league's official artist. Although he never became the league’s official artist, he continued to paint sports and received many commissions. He was the official artist of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. He credits one of his college instructors, Ed Wilson for helping his development as an artist. He told him to paint his life experiences. He created a number of notable works throughout his illustrious career. His work appeared in many TV shows and as album artwork. He also had a few acting roles. He passed away in 2009 in Los Angeles of myeloid leukemia at the age of 71.

Art Style: 

• A distinct feature in his art is that his subjects' eyes are often closed. 
• His work was also influenced by his experience playing football. He wanted to capture movement.

Notable Exhibitions and Works: 

The Sugar Shack (1974)

The Beauty of the Ghetto consisted of 35 painting that toured major American cities from 1972 to 1979 

Growth Through Limits (1992) held in the wake of the LA Riots 

In Remembrance (2001) In response to the events of 9/11.

20th Century Masterworks of African-American Artists II (1995) Travel Exhibitions 

Featured Works

Where Are His Works Now?

Explore the map to see where some of Barne's works are currently housed or displayed.

Sources and Further Reading: 

• Biography
• Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery written by Sandra Neil Wallace and illustrated by Bryan Collier (children’s book) or read aloud version of the book 
• From Pads to Palette Ernie Barnes (autobiography)

 See Also