The King Arts Complex, 867 Mt. Vernon Ave. in Columbus, will host a tribute to legendary African-American artist Romare Bearden on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. The evening will feature an exhibit of Bearden’s works and will feature a musical performance in the Pythian Theater titled “Jazz on the Avenue: A Melodious Celebration of the Art of Romare Bearden.”

Columbus Oh -- The King Arts Complex, 867 Mt. Vernon Ave. in Columbus, will host a tribute to legendary African-American artist Romare Bearden on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. The evening will feature an exhibit of Bearden’s works and will feature a musical performance in the Pythian Theater titled “Jazz on the Avenue: A Melodious Celebration of the Art of Romare Bearden.”

Bearden (1911-1988) is widely acknowledged as one of the most talented and original visual artists of the 20th century. As a child, he grew up in the heart of the Harlem Renaissance. Family friends included luminaries such as W.E.B. DuBois and famous musicians who helped shape Bearden’s passion for jazz, which inspired many of his well-known paintings.

After joining the Harlem Arts Guild, Bearden embarked on his lifelong study of art, gathering inspiration from European artists such as Picasso and Matisse, as well as from African Art (particularly sculpture, masks and textiles) and from Byzantine mosaics, Japanese prints and Chinese landscape murals.

From the mid-1930s through the ‘60s, Bearden was a social worker with the New York City Department of Social Services, working on his art at night and on weekends. His success as an artist was recognized with his first solo exhibition in Harlem in 1940 and his first solo show in Washington, D.C., in 1944.

Bearden’s work was exhibited during his lifetime throughout the United States and Europe. His collages, watercolors, oils, photomontages and prints draw from a variety of historical, literary and musical sources.

For more information about the King Arts Complex event, call (614) 645-5464 or visit Kingartscomplex.