Verna Hart, American (1961- 2019)

A native New Yorker, born in Harlem, Hart was exposed to jazz at an early age. She often takes her sketchpad to a jazz club to capture the mood live. Because of her persistence, the subjects themselves have acclaimed her work.

Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie suggested the title "Dizzy Swinging" for a piece she created during a session at Symphony Space. Saxophonist Branford Marsalis has used one of her pieces to illustrate the cover of his album, "I Heard You Twice the First Time." Hart’s works are also featured in Spike Lee's film, Mo Better Blues.

Hart is strongly influenced by other painters as well, especially Romare Bearden. She met Bearden when she lived near his studio and would go by to watch him paint. He gave her encouragement and purchased some of her work. After his death, Hart created two monoprints to honor him: "Blues for Bearden I" and II," depicting a jazz trio outlined in black.

A trained artist and arts educator, Hart holds two master's degrees that she earned simultaneously from Pratt Institute (Master of Fine Arts) and Bank Street College of Education (Master of Science in education/visual arts.)

She passed in her sleep at age 58 in 2019

ABBREVIATED AWARDS Wilmington, Delaware, City Council, Proclamation Recognizing 30 years as Professional Artist, 2014, WBGO Jazz Logo Award, The Romare Bearden Memorial Scholarship, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Award, Anguilla International Arts Festival, First Place

ABBREVIATED EXHIBITIONS Harlem Fine Arts Show, 2014"From Cover To Cover, 20 Years of African Voices", Schomburg Center for Research In Black Culture, NYC, 2012"By Special Request", Diggs Gallery, Winston State University, NC, 2012 National Black Fine Arts Show, NYC, 2009