Romare Bearden Young Life of Romy Born on

Romare Bearden

Young Life of Romy • Born on September 2, 1911 in Charlotte, NC. • Eventually moved to Harlem, NY where his parents were friends with many musicians, poets, and writers. • He spent summers and part of his school years with his grandparents in Pittsburgh, PA. • There he met a friend, Eugene, who inspired Romy to create, draw, and paint.

Romare Bearden - Visual Jazz • Many of Bearden’s works are centered around jazz and music – influences from growing up with musicians visiting his parents’ home.

Memories… • Bearden’s artwork is influenced by the places he grew up and lived.

Picasso collage Bearden collage • He also tried to portray the African-American race in various points of view – similar to Cubist work & collages.

• “He felt that art portraying the lives of African American’s did not give full value to the individual. … In doing collage he was able to combine abstract art with real images so that people of different cultures could grasp the subject matter of the African American culture: The people. In addition, collage’s technique of gathering several pieces together to create one assembled work symbolizes the coming together of tradition and communities. ” • Bearden died on March 12, 1988. • This work can be seen at Crystal Bridges! >