Between 1952 and 1964, Romare Bearden created a large body of abstract watercolors, oil paintings, and collages. Exhibited with success at the time of their execution, these artworks are little known today. Nonetheless, they directly inform the collages for which Bearden is now best known. "Romare Bearden: Abstraction" is organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Neuberger Museum of Art of Purchase College, State University of New York. The exhibition is curated by Tracy Fitzpatrick, Director, Neuberger Museum of Art. The presentation at the University of Michigan Museum of Art is coordinated by Ozi Uduma, Assistant Curator of Global Contemporary Art. The national tour of "Romare Bearden: Abstraction" is sponsored by Morgan Stanley. Lead support for UMMA’s presentation is provided by the University of Michigan Office of the Provost, the Eleanor Noyes Crumpacker Endowment Fund, and the Ross School of Business. Additional generous support is provided by the University of Michigan Department of History of Art.