Romare Bearden
Romare Howard Bearden was born on September 2, 1911, to Richard Howard and Bessye Bearden in North Carolina. Bearden began college at Lincoln University and completed his studies at New York University. After earning a degree at NYU, he took extensive courses in art. All sorts of artists such as Duccio, Picasso and Matisse inspired Bearden. African sculpture, masks and textiles also had an impact on his artwork. Bearden was first recognized in Harlem in 1940 during a solo exhibition. Later his art was featured in the United States and Europe. Most of Bearden’s paintings come from his experiences in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Pittsburgh and Harlem. Most of his paintings are of historical events, literary and musical sources. In the end, Romare Bearden died on March 12, 1988.