Barkley L. Hendricks

American, 1945 - 2017

A painter and photographer, Barkley L. Hendricks created work that transcends traditional portraiture.

Born in Philadelphia, Hendricks studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (1963–1967) and later earned his MFA at Yale University, where he was influenced by photographer Walker Evans.

Hendricks is best known for his large-scale, iconic painted portraits of African Americans. Photography played a central role in shaping his approach. He saw his camera as a “mechanical sketchbook,” using it to experiment with composition, light, and texture before translating these ideas into his paintings. His street photography and portrait work were deeply integrated into his creative process, informing the bold realism and vibrant color that characterize his painted subjects.

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This painting is a full-length portrait of a man. He stands facing forward, with his hands on his hips. He has light brown skin with warm orange undertones and a short black mustache and beard, and his mouth is closed in a neutral expression. He has round glasses and a light blue hat or beanie over his head. He is wearing a denim jacket over a brown turtleneck shirt and denim pants with a wide black belt. The cuff of the jacket is visible on his left wrist. Over the denim, he wears a long black cape with a high collar that covers most of his arms. His feet are bare, and the one on the left is flexed upward while the one on the right is pointed down. The background is plain gray.
Barkley L. Hendricks, George Jules Taylor, 1972, oil on canvas, William C. Whitney Foundation, 1973.19.2

George Jules Taylor

Barkley L. Hendricks · 1972 · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  1973.19.2
The artwork shows a person from the waist up, positioned slightly bent forward, holding a camera pointed toward the viewer. The individual has a beard and short hair, and their eyes are obscured by a red band across the face. They are wearing a bright red sweater over a white collared shirt and a patterned tie. On the wrist is a watch. The background is an interior space with a light gray wall, featuring some indistinct objects and a chair.
Barkley L. Hendricks, Self-Portrait with Red Sweater, 1980, printed 2023, chromogenic print, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund, 2023.171.2

Self-Portrait with Red Sweater

Barkley L. Hendricks · 1980, printed 2023 · chromogenic print ·  Accession ID  2023.171.2
The image features a man standing upright in a full-body shot. He is looking towards the camera and is dressed in a white coat, pants, and shoes. He is wearing a hat and a cross pendant around his neck. He is holding a briefcase in his left hand. The background shows a stone wall exterior with a ribbed glass panel next to him, indicating that the setting is outdoors.
Barkley L. Hendricks, Dr. Kool, Philadelphia, 1972, gelatin silver print, Alfred H. Moses and Fern M. Schad Fund, 2023.171.1

Dr. Kool, Philadelphia

Barkley L. Hendricks · 1972 · gelatin silver print ·  Accession ID  2023.171.1
A man with dark brown skin, a black afro, mustache, and goatee, and wearing a cardinal-red coat over a black suit, is shown three times in this vertical portrait painting. The version at the center stands with his back to us and those to each side face the left and right edges of the canvas, respectively. They stand close enough for their shoulders to touch, and all three views of the man float against a paper-white background. The man has a deep-set eyes under black brows and high cheekbones. His thin mustache frames full lips, which are closed in all three views, and a line of black hair grows down his pointed chin. He wears a jet-black suit over a bright-white turtleneck shirt, and honey-brown and ivory-white wingtip dress shoes. The collar of his shin-length, red coat is popped up, and the belt hangs loose. In the version to our left, he faces that direction in profile with his eyes closed as he pulls the coat back to tuck his left hand, closer to us, into the pocket of his suit jacket. At the center of the canvas, the man turns his face to our left so we see the side of his cheekbone, the tip of his nose, and his eyelashes outlined against the white background. In the view to our right, his body faces that direction with the hand closer to us tucked into the coat pocket. He turns his head to look toward or at us with shadowed eyes. The artist signed and dated the painting in the upper right corner: “B. Hendricks 72.”
Barkley L. Hendricks, Sir Charles, Alias Willie Harris, 1972, oil and acrylic on canvas, William C. Whitney Foundation, 1973.19.1

Sir Charles, Alias Willie Harris

Barkley L. Hendricks · 1972 · oil and acrylic on canvas ·  Accession ID  1973.19.1