James V. Herring

Who was James V. Herring?

James Vernon Herring was an African-American artist and professor of art at Howard University.

James V. Herring founded the Howard University Department of Art in 1922. In 1943 along with Alonzo J. Aden he opened the Barnett-Aden Gallery in Washington, DC. The gallery was the first black privately owned and operated art gallery in the United States and was located at 127 Randolph Street, NW. In an effort to fight segregation, both black and white artists were exhibited at the gallery. The gallery served as a place to meet for those interested in art, including curators from the Phillips Collection, Corcoran Gallery of Art, and the National Gallery of Art.

Herring and Aden also worked together on the Gallery of Art at Howard. Herring founded it in 1930 and Aden served as the first curator.