Romare Bearden, The Train (detail), 1975, Photogravure and aquatint, Published by Printmaking Workshop, Ed. of 125, Credit: Museum purchase with funds donated anonymously
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.

This article appears in Jan 27 – Feb 2, 2022.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...