Birth of the COOL : Barkley L. Hendricks

I had the Honor to Check out a  Barkley L.Hendricks exhibit free for the first time at Duke's Nasher Museum. The exhibit stood out so much to me because not only was the paintings more detailed then I have ever seen in any figure painting, but these were actual people in real life circa 1964 to present. Showing different attitudes and characters, I fell in love with the history in each piece. Barkley L. Hendricks Superiorly captured every detail of these individuals to the "T." This exhibit, I honestly have to say is my favorite of many.

Here is some of my favorite pieces from the exhibit. ENJOY.

Barkley L. Hendricks, Dr. Kool, 1973. Oil and acrylic on linen canvas, 72 ¾ x 52 ¾ inches. Collection of Dr. and Mrs. Robert and Joan Clark, Philadelphia.

Barkley L. Hendricks, Lawdy Mama, 1969. Oil on canvas, 53 3/4/ x 36 ¼ inches. Collection of the Studio Museum in Harlem, New York. Gift of Stuart Liebman, in memory of Joseph B. Liebman.

Barkley L. Hendricks, Icon for My Man Superman (Superman never saved any black people— Bobby Seale), 1969. Oil , acrylic and aluminum leaf on linen canvas, 59 ½ x 48 inches. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, NY.

Barkley L. Hendricks, Sweet Thang (Lynn Jenkins), 1975-1976. Oil on linen canvas, 52 1/8 x 52 ¾ inches. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, NY.

Barkley L. Hendricks, Tequila, 1978. Oil and acrylic on linen canvas, 60 ¾ x 50 ¼ inches. Collection of the Butler Institute for American Art, Youngstown, OH

Barkley L. Hendricks, George Jules Taylor, 1972. Oil and acrylic on cotton canvas, 91 ½ x 60 ¼ inches. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; William C. Whitney Foundation

Barkley L. Hendricks, Misc. Tyrone (Tyrone Smith),1976. Oil and magna on linen canvas, 72 x 50 ¼ inches. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, NY.

Barkley L. Hendricks, Icon for Fifi, 1982. Oil and combination leaf on linen canvas,
60 ¼ x 50 ¼ inches. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, NY.

Barkley L. Hendricks, APB’s (Afro-Parisian Brothers), 1978. Oil and acrylic on linen canvas, 72 x 50 inches. Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT; The Janet and Simeon Braguin Fund.

Barkley L. Hendricks, Sir Charles, Alias Willie Harris, 1972. Oil and acrylic on linen canvas, 84 1/8 x 72 inches. Collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC.; William C. Whitney Foundation.

Barkley L. Hendricks, View from Behind the School, 2000. Oil on linen canvas, 22-inch diameter. Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Durham, NC; Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Barkley L. Hendricks.

Barkley L. Hendricks, Self-Portrait with Red Sweater, 1980, Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, NY.

Check out Nasher Museum's documentary on the show 'Barkley L. Hendricks: Birth of the Cool' Feb 7th- July 13th 2008