Artist Ernie Barnes Named “America’s Best Painter of Sports” by the American Sport Art Museum

LOS ANGELES – February 3, 2004 – Internationally-acclaimed artist Ernie Barnes has been named “America’s Best Painter of Sports” by the Board of Trustees of the American Sport Art Museum, it was announced today by Dr. Thomas P. Rosandich, President and CEO of the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Alabama.

“Both the Museum and the Academy believe this recognition of Ernie Barnes’ extraordinary contributions to elevating sports imagery to the level of fine art is long overdue,” says Dr. Rosandich. “No other living American artist has done more to illuminate the world of the athlete and the drama of sports competition as this former athlete and world-renown painter.

“Through his masterly command of line and composition, his characteristic depiction of the human anatomy using elongation and distortion, and his origination of the ‘analyzed moment’ to portray athletes in delayed motion, Ernie Barnes has given sports fans everywhere a window into the agony and ecstasy, as well as the hopes and dreams, of the quest for physical greatness.”

Ernie Barnes will be honored on February 12, 2004, by The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation at the Home Depot Center Stadium Club in Carson, CA. Called “A Tribute to Ernie Barnes,” the event will include a presentation of the honor by Dr. Rosandich, a rare exhibition of new work by the artist, and book signing for From Pads to Palette.

In 1966, critic and collector Jack Fiddis declared Barnes “the most expressive painter since [George] Bellows.” Over the past 37 years, Barnes has emerged as one of America’s leading figurative artists and the pioneer of the neo-Mannerist school of painting. The power, grace, intensity and fluidity of his work – combined with his celebrated variation on Genre and sports themes – has given him an international following and unique place in the history of modern art, despite the domination of Abstract Art throughout his career.

Born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, Barnes grew up in the segregated South at a time when African-Americans were not allowed into art museums. He majored in art at North Carolina Central University, while attending college on a football scholarship.

In 1959, Barnes was drafted in the 10th round by the Baltimore Colts, then spent the next five seasons playing for the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos. In 1965, New York Jets owner David (Sonny) Werblin recognized Barnes’ artistic potential and replaced his football salary for one season so he could devote himself to painting. Werblin was also responsible for Barnes’ critically-acclaimed professional debut at the prestigious Grand Central Art Galleries in New York in 1966.

Among other honors over the years, Barnes was named “Official Sports Artist” for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In 1966, he was appointed as the official artist of the American Football League. In 1985, he was selected as the first “Sports Artist of the Year” by the United States Sports Academy, and in 1993 was chosen for the “All-Time Black College Football Team” by the Sheridan Black Network.

Over the years, Barnes’ work has been collected by major entertainment celebrities, corporate leaders and top sports figures and team owners, including:

Football: Trace Armstrong, Howard Ballard, Mike Bass, Keith Byars, Randall Cunningham, Willie Davis, Irving Fryar, Roman Gabriel, Franco Harris, former San Diego Chargers owner Barron Hilton, Keyshawn Johnson, Walter Jones, Alex Karras, former Congressman Jack Kemp, Floyd Little, Paul Maguire, Darnerien McCants, Ryan McNeil, former New Orleans Saints owner John Mecom, Ron Mix, Hardy Nickerson, Brig Owens, Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, Troy Vincent (his largest collector), Reggie Williams, and Ernie Wright.

Basketball: Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss, Julius Erving, Armon Gilliam, NBA Players Association president Billy Hunter, Avery Johnson, Sam Jones, Danny Manning, Willie Naulls, Johnny Newman, Norman Nixon, Gary Payton, Sam Perkins, Elliot Perry, Milwaukee Bucks coach Terry Porter, Clifford Robinson, Bryon Scott, Brian Shaw, Michael Warren, and Charles (Buck) Williams.

Other sports: Los Angeles Marathon founder Bill Burke, Philadelphia Park owner Robert Green, Willie Mays, and Los Angeles Kings co-owner Edward Roski.

Major commissions have included “Fastbreak” (1987) for Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss, “The Metamorphosis of Rocky” (1988) for Sylvester Stallone, “Victory in Overtime” (1996) for Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, “The Dream Unfolds” (1996) for the National Basketball Association in commemoration of their 50th anniversary, and “Oscar the Champion” (portrait of Oscar De La Hoya in action; 2001) for Jerry Buss.

In the May 2000 issue of ESPN Magazine, Troy Vincent, who owns 22 original Ernie Barnes works, noted of his favorite piece: “Everyone loves ‘A Dream Deferred,’ with a father holding his son from danger. I heard Johnnie Cochran was after it. Keyshawn Johnson and Jamal Anderson have been trying to buy one of my pieces too. They’re not for sale.”

Sam Perkins also told ESPN Magazine, “I like Ernie’s elongated figures. He just gets the essential parts of the ethnic qualities he’s depicting. A lot of people copy his style, but Ernie is the original. My loft in Seattle is a big place, and they’re hanging on all the walls. It’s like a museum, really.”

Added Johnny Newman: “I just like all the realism and the backbone of the culture that Ernie portrays. I own a lot of his sketches, like a charcoal scene from Ernie’s famous ‘Sugar Shack,’ the piece Eddie Murphy has. Right now, Ernie’s putting the finishing touches on a classic basketball piece for me.”

In 1973, Ebony called Barnes “one of the nation’s best sports artists whose canvases capture the strength, terror, tragedy and humor of life in the athletic arena.”

"Ernie Barnes is an excellent example to our current players that there is life after football. We in the NFL family are pleased that Ernie is recognized as one of the leading artists of our day,” says NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

In 1995, Barnes’ powerful autobiography, From Pads to Palette, was published. Filled with full-color images of his early work, including sketchbooks, the book chronicles Barnes’ life on and off the playing field and recounts his unrequited passion for art from an early age, including his unlikely evolution from a shy, overweight child into a professional football player. From Pads to Palette also pulses with a frank look at the rarely-revealed physical and emotional trauma at the center of the game.

In the foreword, Barnes’ long-time friend and San Diego Chargers’ teammate, former Congressman Jack Kemp, wrote: “Ernie is a living manifestation of the American Dream. On a personal level, I am so pleased that Ernie’s sketchbooks dating back thirty years have been unearthed. They are a blueprint of how perseverance, moral stamina, tenacity and courage can transform a hard-working, fiercely-competitive, mud-stained, old left guard into an accomplished, successful and revered artist. It happens. It happened to my teammate Ernie Barnes.”

The American Sport Art Museum houses the largest collection of sport art in North America. The United States Sports Academy, founded in 1972, is the largest graduate program in sport education in the world. Dr. Rosandich is the former Director of Athletics for two different universities in the Wisconsin system and has been prominently involved with both the United States Olympic Committee and International Olympic Committee for several decades. For more information on the Museum or USSA, please call (251) 626-3303.

For information about the artist, please call The Company of Art at (310) 652-3034 or visit www.ErnieBarnes.com.



City of Philadelphia to receive original commemorative painting of the September 11th tragedy by renowned artist Ernie Barnes Donation by Robert Green to be presented at invitational reception and unveiling on July 9, 2002 from 5:00-7:00 PM

PHILADELPHIA, PA - "In Remembrance," a painting by internationally-acclaimed artist Ernie Barnes that uniquely commemorates the tragic events of September 11th, has been acquired by Philadelphia Park on behalf of the People of the City of Philadelphia.

Robert Green, the Chairman of Greenwood Racing Inc., the owners of Philadelphia Park, will present the work at an invitational reception and unveiling on July 9, 2002 at Philadelphia Park Racetrack. Ernie Barnes will be present at the unveiling, and accepting the painting on behalf of the People of the City of Philadelphia will be Mayor John F. Street along with Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson, Fire Commissioner Harold Hairston, and Hero Scholarship Fund President Ruth Silwinski. "In Remembrance" will then be placed on public view at the African American Museum in Philadelphia.

Robert Green has also arranged for the production of 100 iris giclée signed and numbered prints of the painting which will be available at $1000 each. All of the proceeds from the sale of this limited edition will be donated to the Hero Scholarship Fund in Philadelphia. The Fund, of which Robert Green has been a Director since 1991, was created in 1954 following an explosion that killed ten firefighters. The Hero Scholarship Fund is dedicated to ensuring that the children of firefighters and police officers killed or severely disabled in the line of duty can receive full scholarships to complete their education. Since its inception, over 1400 students assisted by the fund have graduated from various colleges and universities.

Of the piece, which was conceived in the stunned aftermath of September 11th, the artist says: "I felt a spiritual responsibility to use my art as a visual map to trace the enormity of the tragedy, as well as rally our humanity to deal with events which defy understanding. I, for one, felt suddenly homeless, bereft of all that is familiar and reassuring. I want to express my deep gratitude to Robert Green and Philadelphia Park for their generosity in making it possible for this painting to reside permanently in the Commonwealth that was a final resting place for the brave passengers and crew of United flight #93."