Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations is on view November 11, 2023, through March 3, 2024.
Jackson, MS…The Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) announces the opening of Bearden/Picasso: Rhythms and Reverberations, an unprecedented exhibition that explores shared interests in works by world-renowned artists Romare Bearden and Pablo Picasso on November 11, 2023. Running through March 3, 2024, this exhibition sheds light on the fascinating connections between these two influential artists.
Working intermittently as an artist from 1940 to 1960, Romare Bearden initially focused on his Southern heritage, aiming to capture the essence of his childhood in the South and his upbringing in the North. His artistic endeavors were rooted in the recollections of sensory experiences—capturing the visual, auditory, and emotional fragments from his formative years.
Throughout his life, Bearden gave back to the African American arts community and the art world, at large. He wrote scholarly articles and treatises on art and art history, and as an advocate and promoter of numerous artists, he also organized several group exhibitions and cofounded the Cinque Gallery, an art space named after the leader of the Amistad mutiny of 1839 and dedicated to young minority artists in need of exhibition opportunities.
His legacy is woven throughout 20th-century music, academia, art, and social and political movements. And while Bearden was deeply inspired by Picasso, Bearden himself has become a legendary influence on generations of American artists who seek to incorporate social justice into the arts.
Laurie Hearin McRee Director of MMA, Betsy Bradley said, “We are privileged to showcase artworks by two transformative artists at the Mississippi Museum of Art. The collection by Romare Bearden eloquently underscores the intriguing interplay between these distinguished creators, transcending geographical disparities as one hails from the American South and the other from Spain. These exhibitions channel global inspirations and provide a unique vantage point to reevaluate Picasso through the perspective of a Southern Black artist. This temporal exploration challenges assumptions and enriches our understanding of artistic narratives.
Curated by Jonathan Stuhlman, PhD, senior curator of American Art at The Mint Museum, Rhythms and Reverberations features exclusive loans from esteemed museums and private collectors created by Picasso and Bearden. From abstract oils to collage experiments, the exhibition thoughtfully balances Bearden’s later collages and prints with rarely seen 1940s paintings that vividly reflects Picasso’s influence, from spatial construction to the incorporation of African motifs.
Organized by The Mint Museum, the exhibition is divided into four themes: Bulls & Bullfights, Music & Rhythm, Doors & Windows, and Line & Color. Its presentation in Jackson, MS, is sponsored by the Robert M. Hearin Support Foundation, Mike Espy PLLC, Hope Credit Union, and Denise and Bob Owens. This exhibition is the 19th Presentation of the Annie Laurie Swaim Hearin Exhibition Series.
Take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity to explore the crossroads of cultures, artistic vision, and creative legacy.
This exhibition will be running in conjunction with the Picasso Landscapes: Out of Bounds exhibition.
About The Mint Museum
Established in 1936 as North Carolina’s first art museum, The Mint Museum is a leading, innovative cultural institution and museum of international art and design. With two locations — Mint Museum Randolph in the heart of Eastover and Mint Museum Uptown at Levine Center for the Arts — the Mint boasts one of the largest collections in the Southeast and is committed to engaging and inspiring members of the global community.
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Visitor Information
Opening Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Sunday: Noon – 5 PM
Admission Prices
This exhibition is free for all Members
$18 Adults
$13 Seniors (65+)
$10 Youth (ages 5-17) and College Students (with ID)
Free for Members
Free for children ages 5 and under
*Free for K-12 students on Tuesdays thanks to Feild Co-Operative Association and Thursdays thanks to Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi.
About the Mississippi Museum of Art
Established in 1911, the Mississippi Museum of Art (MMA) is dedicated to connecting Mississippi to the world and the power of art to the power of community. The Museum’s permanent collection includes paintings, photography, multimedia works, and sculpture by Mississippi, American, and international artists. The largest art museum in the state, the Mississippi Museum of Art offers a vibrant roster of exhibitions, public programs, artistic and community partnerships, educational initiatives, and opportunities for exchange year-round. Programming is developed inclusively with community involvement to ensure that a diversity of voices and perspectives are represented. Located at 380 South Lamar Street in downtown Jackson, the Museum is committed to honesty, equity, and inclusion. The Mississippi Museum of Art and its programs are sponsored in part by the City of Jackson and Visit Jackson. Support is also provided in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information, visit msmuseumart.org.
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Image Caption
Romare Bearden (American, 1911-88). At Five in the Afternoon, 1946, oil on composition board. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, The University of Oklahoma, Norman; Purchase, U.S. State Department Collection, 1948. Romare Bearden Foundation / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS)