The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 14, 2025

Vertically oriented acrylic painting swarmed entirely in multi-colored patterns that create two abstracted musicians, the skin of both made up of dark blue, purple, and red pattern, and playing instruments back-to-back, shoulders hunched forward. The person on our left plays a clarinet in patterned yellow trousers and a red shirt. The person on our right plays a saxophone in a patterned pink outfit. Words such as "African Rhythm," "Our Heritage," "Black Funk," and "Preserve our Music" radiate out in rays from their heads.

Heritage

1973

Wadsworth Jarrell

(American, b. 1929)
America
acrylic and metal foil on canvas
Overall: 120.7 x 76.2 cm (47 1/2 x 30 in.)
Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 2016.268
© Wadsworth Jarrell
Location: 229A Contemporary

Did You Know?

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

Description

In this painting, dense patterns in vivid colors comprise the figures of two jazz musicians. Phrases including “African Rhythm,” “Our Heritage,” and “Black Funk” emerge from the dynamic composition. The subjects and visual traits of this work are rooted in the priorities of the artist collective AfriCOBRA (African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists), of which Wadsworth Jarrell was a cofounder. 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 1970s. After leaving Chicago, Jarrell settled in Cleveland, where he now lives and works.
  • 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 57, no. 2 (March/April 2017): 8-11. Reproduced: P. 11; Mentioned: P. 7, 10 archive.org
    Thüring, Reto and Dowling, Nalani. "Creative Heritage: Wadsworth and Jae Jarrell continue to create work that reflects their African roots.” Cleveland Art: Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine 57, no. 6 (November/December 2017): 10-11. Reproduced and Mentioned: p. 11 archive.org
    Jarrell, Wadsworth A. AFRICOBRA: Experimental Art toward a School of Thought. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2020
  • Contemporary Installation. 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=14 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

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