My First Dunk
1976
"My First Dunk" is an oil and acrylic work on canvas by Ernie Barnes that captures a triumphant moment of athletic achievement with the artist's characteristic elongated, graceful figuration. The painting celebrates the physical prowess and joy of basketball while demonstrating Barnes's distinctive style, which combined his training in fine art with his deep appreciation for African American sports culture. Presented in the artist's frame, the work exemplifies Barnes's ability to elevate everyday moments of Black life and athleticism into powerful expressions of human dignity and movement.
- Medium
- oil and acrylic on canvas, in artist's frame
- Location
- Phillips, Salt Lake City, UT
- Spotted At
- Auction House · PhillipsView on map
🔨 Auction Lot
Modern & Contemporary Art Day Sale, Morning Session
November 20, 2024
Lot 18
Artists in conversation
LeRoy Neiman
American · b. 1921
Neiman shared Barnes's passion for depicting athletic achievement and sports culture with energetic, celebratory figuration, particularly focusing on African American athletes in basketball and other sports with bold, expressive paint handling.
Jacob Lawrence
American · b. 1917
Lawrence similarly elevated African American everyday life and culture through figurative painting with a strong social realist perspective, capturing dynamic human movement and community pride with deeply personal artistic vision.
Barkley L. Hendricks
American · b. 1945
Hendricks created monumental figurative oil paintings celebrating African American identity, style, and physical presence with the same sense of dignity and cultural affirmation that defines Barnes's basketball imagery and elongated figure work.
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