Barkley L. Hendricks' Exhibition 'Birth of the Cool' at Studio Museum in Harlem Captures Black American Style

The Studio Museum in Harlem hosted 'Birth of the Cool,' a solo exhibition featuring the work of painter Barkley L. Hendricks from November 12, 2008, to March 15, 2009, located at 144 West 125th Street, NYC. Hendricks, who studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and Yale's School of Art, captured the essence of black Americans during the late 1960s and early 1970s, merging elements of hip culture with a sense of militancy. His notable pieces include the 1975 portrait 'Blood (Donald Formey),' 'Lawdy Mama' from 1969, and 'Sir Charles (Willie Harris)' from 1972. Since 1972, he has also taught at Connecticut College and produced self-portraits and recent works reflecting Jamaica’s landscapes, emphasizing his role as a social commentator and artist.