Romare Bearden
One of the 20th century’s preeminent artists, Romare Bearden (American, 1911–1988) lived and worked during a period of unprecedented growth and vitality in American society. His diverse oeuvre—including collages and photomontages; mosaic murals; designs for stage sets, record album covers, and books; and watercolors, oils, and monotypes—reflects the creative ferment of his time. Deeply impassioned about the people, issues, and ideas that shaped the world, Bearden imbued his work with a humanism that transcends time and place. Bearden received numerous awards and honors, including the National Medal of Arts and several honorary doctorates. His work is in many major collections, including those of the National Gallery of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Studio Museum in Harlem.