Foremost African American Artist
  Ernie Barnes  July 15, 1938 - April 30, 2009

A former professional football player, artist Ernie Barnes is best known for his unique figurative style of painting and is widely recognized as the foremost African American artist today.
For over 40 years, his neo-mannerism style of art has been admired and collected internationally.

His national traveling "Beauty of the Ghetto" exhibition in the 1970s featured some of his timeless works as "Storyteller," "High Aspirations" and "The Graduate."

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His famous 1971 "Sugar Shack" dance scene appeared on the "Good Times" television show and on the Marvin Gaye album "I Want You." This image has been widely imitated and Barnes' expressive style has influenced countless aspiring artists.  .:read more:.
Ernie Barnes was born in Durham, North Carolina. He took up track and field and football in high school, and attended North Carolina Central University, where he played college football. Barnes played offensive guard for five seasons in the American Football League (AFL). He played for three teams: the New York Titans in 1960, the San Diego Chargers (1961–1962) and the Denver Broncos (1963–1964), and was designated as "Official Artist of the American Football League".
 
Barnes painted The Sugar Shack which is featured on the cover of the Marvin Gaye album I Want You and in the credits of the 1970s U.S. sitcom Good Times. He also created many other paintings which were featured throughout the show. Barnes also appeared in small roles in a couple of episodes of the series.

His artwork is characterized by elongated figures, usually in motion. Owing to his athletic background, many of his paintings have a sports theme. He was named Official Artist of the 1984 Summer Olympics and received the 1984 and 2004 Sport Artist of the Year Award presented annually by the American Sport Art Museum and Archives.
In 2004, rapper and record producer Kanye West commissioned Barnes to paint an interpretation of West's recovery from a 2002 near fatal car crash. The painting, named A Life Restored, measures 9 ft x 10 ft and hangs from West's dining room ceiling.
Barnes died in 2009 after a brief illness. He was married, had three daughters and two sons.
Center Stage Magazine

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