Two generations after the passing of American icon Romare Bearden in 1988, The New School’s Institute on Race, Power, and Political Economy and the Vera List Center for Art and Politics, the Romare Bearden Foundation, and The Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University combine forces to examine Bearden’s legacy under three distinct lenses: the impact of his activist work, especially his prints; the role of music in both his practice at large and the activist projects; and the resonance of his oeuvre in contemporary art making.

This guide accompanies the multitier initiative In Common: Romare Bearden and New Approaches to Art, Race & Economy, which consists of a three-day symposium, an exhibition, and a forthcoming publication.

The exhibition In Common: New Approaches with Romare Bearden highlights Bearden’s work as an artist, educator, scholar, songwriter, and social activist. Drawing from the collections of the Romare Bearden Foundation, The New School, and other private collections, the exhibition presents a selection of works demonstrating Bearden’s keen exploration of race and racial stereotypes, often taking inspiration from history, literature, the Bible, jazz, and African American communities.

His work is complemented by six leading and emerging contemporary artists—Black Quantum Futurism, Kahlil Robert Irving, Lorraine O’Grady, Hank Willis Thomas, Mickalene Thomas, and Charisse Pearlina Weston—whose visions resonate with those of Bearden and contribute to a multigenerational dialogue on the political agency of art.

Featuring contemporary creative works and perspectives from socially-conscious, politically engaged BIPOC artists and commentators, the symposium In Common: Romare Bearden and New Approaches to Art, Race & Economy draws on Bearden’s activist legacy to spotlight the potent, yet still-too-rarely-acknowledged relationships between race, culture, economy, and the Common Good.

This guide brings together a welcome address by Interim New School President, Donna E. Shalala; an introduction by Henry Cohen Professor of Economics and Urban Policy & Founding Director at The Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy, The New School, Darrick Hamilton; essays on Bearden’s creative work and activism by Senior Fellow at The Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy, Henry A. J. Ramos and Director, Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies, Wayne Winbourne; a biography on the artist by Romare Bearden Foundation Co-Director, Diedra Harris-Kelly; a curatorial essay by Harris-Kelley and Co-Director Johanne Bryant-Reid, and VLC Senior Director/Chief Curator Carin Kuoni and Curator and Director of Programs Eriola Pira; along with statements by each of the exhibiting artists, biographies, a checklist and installation images, and a full schedule of the symposium.