The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 24, 2024

Heritage

Heritage

1973
(American, b. 1929)
Overall: 120.7 x 76.2 cm (47 1/2 x 30 in.)
© Wadsworth Jarrell
Location: not on view

Did You Know?

Look closely to find the words “African Rhythm; Our Heritage” and “Black Funk; Preserve Our Music” emerging from the musicians’ heads.

Description

Cleveland-based artist Wadsworth Jarrell became internationally known as a founder and leading figure of the artist collective AfriCOBRA (African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists). Formed on the south side of Chicago in 1968, AfriCOBRA was foundational to the Black Arts Movement—the aesthetic branch of the Black Power Movement that flourished in the 1960s and '70s. In Heritage, the pair of jazz musicians exuberantly playing their instruments are composed of dots of colors and letters, while phrases like "African Rhythm Our Heritage" and "Black Funk" emerge from the vibrant composition. With vivid colors, prominent use of language, collage elements, and explicit references to jazz, Heritage represents AfriCOBRA's aesthetic priorities and its celebration of Black culture.
  • 1973-?
    Collection of the artist
    Private collector, Atlanta, GA, acquired directly from the artist
    1973 - 2016
    Private collector, Atlanta, GA, consigned for sale at Swann Auction Galleries
    2016
    (Swann Auction Galleries, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    2016 -
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Rutland, Beau. “Acquisition Highlights 2016: Contemporary Art.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine vol. 57, no. 2 (March/April 2017): 8-11. Reproduced: P. 11; Mentioned: P. 7, 10.
    Jarrell, Wadsworth A. AFRICOBRA: Experimental Art toward a School of Thought. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2020
  • Contemporary Gallery Reinstallation 2021. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer).
    Heritage: Wadsworth and Jae Jarrell. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (November 21, 2017-February 25, 2018).
  • {{cite web|title=Heritage|url=false|author=Wadsworth Jarrell|year=1973|access-date=24 March 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2016.268