Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations

The exhibition highlights the shared interests and artistic approaches of Romare Bearden and Pablo Picasso around four themes: bulls and bullfights, music and rhythm, doorways and windows, and line and color.
Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations puts a selection of Bearden’s collages, prints, and rarely seen 1940s paintings into dialogue with Picasso’s work, which inspired the younger artist and many others in his generation. Bearden’s art processed the influence of Cubism —which also used collage and often looked to African art for models of abstraction— along with African American cultural traditions such as quilting and jazz improvisation.
Just as Picasso profoundly inspired Bearden, Bearden himself was a legendary influence on 20th-century music, art, and social and political movements. Throughout his life, he advocated for African American artists through his writings and by helping establish galleries, museums, and organizations to support their work. Bearden’s legacy continues to inspire younger generations of American artists who aim to incorporate social justice into their art.