Romare Bearden: Artist As Activist & Visionary

Date/Time
Date(s) - 04/30/2022 - 09/18/2022
12:00 am

Location
Frick Pittsburgh

Categories


This exhibition showcases the social conscience of artist Romare Bearden (1911–1988).

Drawing on his own experiences, Bearden created narratives that reflect both the nostalgic rural North Carolina of his childhood and the vibrant urban life of places like Pittsburgh and Harlem.

Bearden spent portions of his youth with his grandparents in Pittsburgh, graduating from Peabody High School in 1929. His 1984 mural “Pittsburgh Recollections”, installed at the Gateway T station, honors the city’s history and its residents’ work ethic.

His work layers themes from literature and religion with everyday rituals like family dinners to create visual stories that depict and celebrate African American subjects. Featuring a diverse collection of original collages, watercolors, limited edition prints and archival materials, this exhibition examines how Bearden agitated for social change through the visual arts and print media.



Address
7227 Reynolds Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15208 United States