Ernie Barnes (July 15, 1938 – April 27, 2009) - The Sugar Shack, 1976
Acrylic on canvas, 36 x 40 inches
Thursdays are dedicated to honoring artists who have passed away but whose contributions to the art world remain significant. Their impact should never be forgotten.
Ernest Eugene Barnes Jr. (July 15, 1938 – April 27, 2009) was an American artist well known for his unique style of elongated characters and movement.
The Sugar Shack became a Black cultural icon after the first version was featured on the cover of the 1976 Marvin Gaye album, I Want You. That same year, Barnes created this second version, which garnered wider fame when it was added to the end credits of the groundbreaking sitcom Good Times and later became a popular printed reproduction.
The painting now belongs to Houston collectors Lara and Bill Perkins, who acquired it at a record-smashing auction last year. -source
Delve deeper: Millions Saw His Paintings on TV. In the Art World, His Work Still Went Unnoticed.