What You Didn’t Know About Barkley L. Hendricks
Inspired by Walker Evans, his teacher at Yale, Barkley L. Hendricks took to the streets with a camera to document Black life, as in “Untitled” (circa 1995). His images became a source of inspiration for his exquisite portrait paintings.
Estate of Barkley L. Hendricks and Jack Shainman Gallery
By Arthur Lubow
Barkley L. Hendricks portrayed Black people who exude attitude. “In the Black community, you stand out because you declare your own sense of identity beyond your environment,” said his longtime friend Richard J. Watson, artist-in-residence at the African American Museum in Philadelphia. “When you see yourself shown as a standout — and not because you haven’t eaten in three days and you’re a symbol of poverty — that gives you respectability.”