ERNIE BARNES (1938 - )     

      Ernie Barnes' involvement with art began at an early age, like most gifted adult artists. However, when he reached high school his creative endeavors were temporarily detoured in his determination to become a successful athlete. In part this was a response to the demands of peer pressure which can be so strong at that age. He graduated from his high school a hero and star football player, and with 26 full athletic scholarships to choose from. He chose North Carolina Central University and a major in art. After college he continued in an illustrious professional athletic career, but never let his love for football overshadow his love for art. Football gave him an enormous satisfaction of achievement, of being able to do something extremely difficult, and do it well. Art, however, allowed him the privilege to interpret for the public his concepts of the relationship between art and life.

In 1966 Ernie Barnes retired from football to commit himself to his art. His athletic career made a special contribution to his sensibility and his art, and he often weds physical with artistic expression. Many of his subjects are satirical and he uses exaggeration, and even caricature, to enhance their mood, humor and physical vitality. Seen through Barnes' dramatic-comic vision, human figures play out their roles in a contemporary scenario in a manner that is both entertaining and finely executed. It can easily be said that Barnes has more than established himself as one among America's leading contemporary painters.

INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS
• 1979
  • North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, North Carolina
• 1976
  • City Museum, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• 1975
  • Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Center, Brooklyn, N.Y
  • North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina
• 1974
  • Museum of African Arts, Washington, D.C.
• 1973
  • High Museum, Atlanta, Georgia
• 1972
  • Science and Industry Museum, Los Angeles, Cal.
• 1971
  • Elizabeth City State University, Elizabeth City, North Carolina
  • Agra Gallery, Washington, D.C.
• 1969
  • Mckenzie Gallery, Los Angeles, California
• 1968
  • Mckenzie Gallery, Los Angeles, California
• 1966
  • Grand Central Art Gallery, New York

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
• The Estate of Ambassador John Akar, Sierra Leone, West Africa
• Secretary of the Army and Mrs. Clifford Alexander, Washington, D.C.
• Mr. and Mrs. Harry Belafonte, New York
• Mr. and Mrs. Joey Bishop, Beverly Hills, California
• Mr. and Mrs. Julian Bond, Atlanta, Georgia
• The Honorable and Mrs. Tom Bradley, Los Angeles, California
• The Honorable John Conyers, Detroit, Michigan
• Mr. and Mrs. William Cosby, Beverly Hills, California
• Mr. and Mrs. Howard Cosell, New York
• Mr. and Mrs. Sammy Davis, Jr., Beverly Hills, California
• Mr. Alex Haley, Los Angeles, California
• The Honorable James Hawkins, Durham, North Carolina
• Mr. and Mrs. Charlton Heston, Beverly Hills, California
• The Honorable Maynard Jackson, Atlanta, Georgia
• Mrs. Ethel Kennedy, McLean, Virginia
• Mr. and Mrs. Steve Lawrence, Beverly Hills, California
• Mr. and Mrs. Norman Lear, Beverly Hills, California
• Mr. and Mrs. Dick Martin, Beverly Hills, California
• Mr. and Mrs. Dean Martin, Beverly Hills, California
• The Honorable H.M. Michaux, Durham, North Carolina
• Mr. and Mrs. Jack Murphy, San Diego, California
• Mr. Ryan O'Neill, Beverly Hills, California
• Mr. Jack Palance, Malibu, California
• Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Poitier, Beverly Hills, California
• Mr. Burt Reynolds, Bel Air, California
• Mr. Richard Roundtree, Beverly Hills, California
• Ms. Diania Ross, New York
• Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Ruben, Beverly Hills, California
• Mr. and Mrs. Tom Sarnoff, Beverly Hills, California
• Ms. Dina Shore, Beverly Hills, California
• Mr. and Mrs. William Sullivan, Boston, Massachusetts
• Mr. Flip Wilson, Malibu, California