Verna Hart

verna Verna Hart is an expressionist painter who describes "jazz" as the medium of her work. She is acclaimed for her composed and improvised jazz paintings. Hart is a native New Yorker, born in the village of Harlem .

A dedicated artist whose works have been represented in numerous galleries and museums throughout the United States and Africa, including public and private collections. Among the accomplishments and corporations which have commissioned works by Hart: MT A Arts for Transit Commission, Hanes Hosiery / Sara Lee Corporation, Absolut Vodka Commission, WBGO Jazz Logo Award, New Jersey Gubernatorial Portrait Commission, Jazz Charlotte Festival, The Romare Bearden Memorial Scholarship, Pratt Institute Assistantship, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Award, and recent First Place recipient in the Anguilla International Arts Festival ( a commemorative postal stamp of her work was created ). Even Hollywood notables have done their part in showcasing the genius of this talented artist. Bill Cosby had featured her works on the set of "Cosby Mysteries". , Verna's work can also be seen on "The Steve Harvey Show" and "New York Undercover". Spike Lee featured her work in his first jazz film "Mo Better Blues".

EDUCATION (Graduate)
1988-91 Pratt Institute (Master of Fine Art / Painting)
1988-91 Bank Street College of Education / Parsons School of Design (Master of Science in Education Supervision and Administration with a Visual Arts Focus )
1985 University D'ell Art, Venice, Italy (Painting) Undergraduate
1982-84 School of Visual Arts, New York (BFA Painting)
1979-81 Corcoran School of Art, Washington, DC (Fine Arts)
1978-79 Cooper Union, New York (Painting)

EMPLOYMENT
1990-Present (Professional Fine Artist)
1995-90 Adjunct Professor of Art / City University of New York (Medgar Evers College)
1990-84 Fine Arts Teacher / New York City Board of Education -Springfield Gardens High School
-Diana Sands Junior High School ( Special Education ) -Art Coordinator (School District 9)
1985-83 The Image Bank (Photography Editor / Researcher )
1983 Lehman College Institute of the Arts (Artist-Critic)
1984-81 Bronx V A Medical Center (Artist in Residence / Interior Design Assistant )
1981- 79 Corcoran Gallery of Art ( Gallery Assistant )

PUBLIC & PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
MTA Arts for Transit Public Art Commission, New York
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York
Carillon Importers Ltd., New Jersey
WBGO Jazz Radio Station, New Jersey
Sara Lee Corporation, North Carolina
Atlantic County Art Collection, New Jersey
Bronx VA Medical Center, New York
The Collection of the late Romare Bearden & Dizzy Gillespie
Bill Cosby
Branford Marsalis
Ellis Marsalis
Spike Lee
Lionel Hampton
Jeff "Tain" Watts
Malcolm Jamal Warner
Ed Bradley
Clarence Avant
NJ Governor Jim Florio
Mayor Michael R. White (Cleveland)
Harvey Grant
Darryl Walker

SELECTED SOLO & GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2001 Just Lookin' Gallery
2000 Studio Museum of Harlem
2000 Black Fine Arts Show, Chicago
2000 Sande Webster Gallery, Philadelphia
2000 Michelle's of Delaware Gallery
1999 Black Fine Arts Show, New York
1999 UFO Gallery, New York
1999 Dorsey's Gallery, New York
1998 BE Noel Gallery, Charlotte, NC
1998 Atlanta Black Arts Festival
1998 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York
1997 Rush Arts Gallery, Soho
1997 Gallery Royale, New Orleans
1997 Museum of African American Art, California
1996 Cinque Gallery, Soho
1996 National Black Fine Arts Festival, Atlanta
1996 Ubiquitous Art Gallery, North Carolina
1995 Delta Fine Arts Center, North Carolina
1995 Gallery 1990, Baltimore
1995 Bagit Gallery, Chicago
1994 Eubie Blake National Museum, Baltimore
1994 Camille Love Gallery, Atlanta
1994 171 Arts Center, Corning, NY
1994 Gallery 500, Washington, DC
1994 Le Jazz Afrique, Senegal, Africa
1993 Sanctuary Gallery, New York
1993 Gallery Annext, Soho
1993 Gallery Royale, New Orleans
1993 Sande Webster Gallery, Philadelphia
1993 Acbaw Center for the Arts, Mt. Vernon
1992 Wetherholt Gallery, Washington, DC
1992 Afro-American Cultural Center, North Carolina
1992 Schenectady Museum, New York
1992 Lockart & Pettus Gallery, New York
1992 Art Expo New York
1991 Savacou Gallery, New York
1991 New York Urban League
1991 Forbes Magazine Gallery, New York
1991 Pepsi Cola Corporation, Somers, NY
1991 Ubiquitous Gallery, Charlotte, NC
1990 Restoration Art & Cultural Center, New York
1990 Spiral Gallery, New York
1990 JM Family Enterprises, Miami

She holds two masters degrees which she earned simultaneously from Pratt Institute (Masters of Fine Art / Painting) and Bank Street College of Education (Masters of Science in Education / Visual Arts ). She was once a part time professor of Art at Medgar Evers College (CUNY), and an art teacher to many students of the NYC Board of Education.

Max Roach included her works in the world premiere performance of his production "To the Max! ". Jazz saxophonist Branford Marsalis insisted that Hart design an album cover to compliment his musical creation "1 Heard You Twice the First Time". The late Stephane Grappelli once faced his "85 & Still Swinging" album with her work.

She acknowledges that her greatest accomplishment is being "Mommy" to her three children she fondly refers to as her "Trio".

View Verna's Art