“Throughout my five years in the NFL, I remained at the deepest level of my being an artist.”

- Ernie Barnes

SELECTED CHRONOLOGY

SUNRISE
JULY 15, 1938

Born to Fannie Geer and Ernest E. Barnes Sr. in Durham North Carolina during the height of the Jim Crow era.

Enters grade school already familiar with Toulouse-Lautrec, Delecroix, Rubens and Michelangelo.

1952

Sneaks into the Durham Armory and experiences his first juke joint, the genesis for his painting "The Sugar Shack".

1956

Graduates Hillside High School with 26 athletic scholarship offers as the captain of the football team and shot-put state champion.

1959

Creates "The Bench" shortly after being drafted by the Baltimore Colts. This beloved painting remained in his possession despite substantial offers throughout his life.

1960-62

Joins the Los Angeles Chargers. Shortly after, the team moves to San Diego.

1963-64

Offensive guard for the Denver Broncos.

1966

First major solo art exhibition. Hosted by NY Jets owner Sonny Werblin at Grand Central Art Galleries in New York City.

1968

Creates first business logo.

1972-76

"The Beauty of The Ghetto" exhibition tours major US cities.

1976

"The Sugar Shack" cover art.

1976-79

"The Sugar Shack" appears on the opening and closing credits of the television show Good Times.

1978

"The Disco" cover art.

1979

"Donald Byrd &125th Street" cover art.

1979

Solo exhibition at North Carolina Museum of Art. attended by Governor Jim Hunt

1980

"Late Night DJ" cover art.

1980

Plays Negro League baseball catcher Josh Gibson in the movie, "Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy Satchel Paige”.

1980

Named official "Sports Artist of the 1984 Olympic Games".

1984

"The Maestro" cover art.

1984

Marries Bernadine "Bernie" Gradney.

1986

"Head Over Heels" cover art.

1987

Paints "Fastbreak," commissioned by the Los Angeles Lakers.

1995

Releases autobiography about his North Carolina roots and transition from pro football to the beginning of his art career.

1996 "The Dream Unfolds" commissioned by the National Basketball Association for their 50th Anniversary.

1996

Unveils "Victory in Overtime" commissioned by Carolina Panthers founders Jerry and Rosalind Richardson

2000

"In Rapture" cover art.

1999

Bestowed The University Award, the highest honor by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.

2008

Unveils "Angel in Training" commissioned by Bill & Marcia Withers.

SUNSET

April 27, 2009 Los Angeles, California

2014

"The Bench" is gifted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame for their permanent collection.

2022

"The Sugar Shack" sells at Christie's Evening Sale at the most exciting, fun 10 minutes in auction house history.

July 15, 2023

North Carolina Museum of Art acquires "Last Hurdle" and celebrates the occasion on his 85th birthday.