Romare Bearden: Abstraction

With some 55 paintings, works on paper and collages, Romare Bearden: Abstraction is the first exhibition to fully examine and contextualize the artist’s significant body of abstract work. Recognized as one of the most creative and original visual artists of the 20th century, Romare Bearden’s prolific and distinguished career spanned nearly 50 years. This exhibition, which debuts at the Gibbes before traveling to venues across the country, also includes pieces created before and after his most direct engagement with abstraction (among these, the figurative collages for which he is most well-known). The exhibition emphasizes the importance of abstraction in the artist's oeuvre, its significant contribution to the overall Bearden narrative and marks the artist's place within the New York avant-garde of the 1950s-60s. Romare Bearden: Abstraction is organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase College, SUNY. The national tour of Romare Bearden: Abstraction is sponsored by . Additional support for the exhibition is provided by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Liberty Hall Capital, Lynch Cracraft Wealth Management of Raymond James, Jane Smith Turner Foundation, Marilyn Schultz, Elise and Les Detterbeck, Prudence and William Finn, Ms. Heather McFarlin, Patsy K. Pettus, Esther Ferguson, Mrs. Peter Manigault, Mary E. Walters, Deborah and Bill Kennard, Marlene Addlestone and Larry Bursten, Cathy and Buddy Jenrette, Ann and Lee Higdon, Louise Allen, Andrea Woodfield, Martie and David Adams, Martha and Charley McLendon, Mr. and Mrs. Rowan G. P. Taylor, Martin Z. Margulies, and an anonymous donor.