Ernie Barnes might be the only acclaimed artist who went to school on a football scholarship. Born in Durham, NC, in 1938, he graduated with a fine arts degree from North Carolina College where he also starred on the gridiron. The 6' 3", 250-lb. offensive lineman then played professional football for six seasons (1959-64) with the Colts, Jets, Chargers and Broncos. It wasn't until his playing career ended that Barnes could dedicate himself full-time to his real passion, honing his signature painting style of capturing movement and elongated figures.

As a former pro athlete and fellow African American, Barnes was the perfect choice to paint a portrait of Willie Mays from his 1965 MVP season. This gorgeous Ernie Barnes original 1-of-1 oil on canvas, measuring 24” by 36”, depicts the Say Hey Kid in his San Francisco Giants road uniform as he watches one of his 660 home runs sail into the night sky. Barnes’ trademark style is on full display, with Mays' larger-than-life figure and the movement of his follow-through perfectly captured. The painting maintains its blend of bold blue colors in the background and sharp contrasts of light and shade on the uniform. There is a light brown spotting scattered in some areas that may or may not be intentional by Barnes; in any regard, it blends in well giving off the appearance of infield dirt dusting around Mays' pants. The artist's patented signature with the "1965" copyright date is hand-painted by Barnes on the bottom left corner. This impressive masterpiece intertwining America's pastime and pop culture comes in excellent condition. It presents beautifully within a black-finished wood frame (Barnes preferred distressed wood frames) that complements both the subject's legend and the artist's immense talent.

Steve Blauner commissioned this Willie Mays original painting directly from Ernie Barnes in 1965. A longtime Hollywood producer and executive who worked on iconic TV shows such as “Bewitched” and “I Dream of Jeannie,” Blauner grew up in New York City a huge fan of Mays and the Giants. So, he had his mutual friend, Sammy Davis Jr. who was close with Barnes, ask Ernie to produce a painting of Mays honoring his MVP season. For decades, this unknown painting remained in Blauner's possession as a generational heirloom, beyond Steve's passing in 2015, and is now being consigned directly from his family.

As for Barnes, who died in 2009, his legacy is richly defined by his countless contributions to Black history and pop culture. Named the official artist of the 1984 Olympics by the LAOOC, his artwork has been used on dozens of famous music album covers including Marvin Gaye and B.B. King. In 2005, Kanye West had Barnes paint "A Life Restored", a massive 9x10 foot rendition of his life-changing experience following a near-fatal car crash. The piece that has brought Barnes the most fame, especially posthumously, is "The Sugar Shack", which sold at auction in 2022 for $15.3 million.

Jack Kemp, former U.S. Congressman and San Diego Chargers quarterback, said it best about his teammate and friend. “He has become a beacon of hope, shining from the inner-city streets and the dirt playgrounds of rural North Carolina...A manifestation of the American Dream. Ernie’s art helps play a very positive role in uplifting our nation.”