Ernie Barnes: the overlooked legacy of the athlete turned celebrity artist
The work of the football player who became a painter is finally being celebrated, from his Olympics artwork to his Marvin Gaye album cover
Historically noted as the first professional American athlete to become a painter, the artistic legacy of football player Ernie Barnes still remains overlooked.
But now, as part of a long overdue survey, his art is on view in Ernie Barnes: A Retrospective, which runs at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles until 8 September. Over 50 paintings, photos and ephemera – including his football helmet, the chair from his studio, and his paintbrushes – are on view, detailing his career, hidden from the spotlight. This is despite creating album covers for Marvin Gaye, receiving a commissioned by Kanye West and being named the official artist of the 1984 Olympics.