Ernest Barnes (1938 - 2009) was an African-American painter, well known for his unique style of elongation and movement. He was also a professional football player, actor and author. Many of his subjects are satirical and he uses exaggeration, and even caricature, to enhance their mood, humor and physical vitality. Seen through Barnes' dramatic-comic vision, human figures play out their roles in a contemporary scenario in a manner that is both entertaining and finely executed. It can easily be said that Barnes has more than established himself as one among America's leading contemporary painters.
