Beardon, Romare

Beardon, Romare (Howard) (?1912–88) painter, collagist; born in Charlotte, N.C. Now regarded as a major American artist, he studied with George Grosz at the Art Students League, New York (1936–37), and at Columbia University (1943). He also studied philosophy and art at the Sorbonne, Paris (1951). He worked in such mediums as collage, oil, graphics, tapestry, and as set and costume designer for the Alvin Ailey Ballet Company, New York (1971). Based in New York City, he founded the Spiral Group (1963), an organization promoting his fellow African-American artists. His collage work, such as Saturday Morning (1969) and Patchwork Quilt (1970), is influenced by cubism and African symbolism.