Romare Bearden was born in 1911 in Charlotte North Carolina and raised in Harlem and Pittsburgh. After attending Boston University he graduated from New York University with a degree in mathematics. While living in Boston he pitched for the semi-professional Boston Tigers baseball team. His mother wanted him to become a doctor but he decided on a career in art after working as a political cartoonist for a college magazine. Bearden believed that there was one art not “black art" or “white art." This belief led to diverse artistic studies including social realism classical Chinese landscape painting the Italian Renaissance and cubism. He studied with the German artist George Grosz with the Art Students league. Bearden had his first solo exhibition in 1940 just prior to joining the all-black 372nd Infantry Regiment. After World War II he continued his art education at the Sorbonne in Paris in 1950. As a member of the 306 Group with other artists including Jacob Lawrence he helped lead the Harlem Renaissance movement. One of Bearden's primary artistic influences was his interest in music. Besides his relationship with his cousin Duke Ellington Bearden was also an accomplished songwriter achieving modest success with “Sea Breeze." He is perhaps best known for his photocollage work. In addition to his artwork he coauthored four books on art and founded the Cinque Gallery. In 1987 President Reagan awarded Romare Bearden the National Medal of Arts. Bearden passed away in 1988.