Work from Romare Bearden part of 'Black Portraits' exhibition now showing at MFA St. Pete

Romare Bearden’s collage work goes back to early-’60s when the Black artist, author and songwriter boldly established his improvisational flair with art that reflected the free jazz and blues that was fast-rising at the same time.

Work from Bearden—who contributed political cartoons to the weekly Baltimore Afro-American in the mid-’30s—is part of the "Explore the Vaults: Black Portraits" portraiture exhibition at MFA St. Pete which also features deconstructivist Derrick Adams who also explores Black identity and experiences.

The show runs through Feb. 27, and Feb. 12 would actually be a good day to get to the MFA since that’s also the first day to see work from Roman Baroque period sculptor and artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini.