Columbus is gearing up for the fifth edition of the Culture: Black Fine Art Expo, a three-day celebration of art, culture and community set to fill the King Arts Complex this week. The event opens with a VIP reception Thursday, November 12, followed by free public exhibitions, and this year it comes with a notable new face at the front of the room: former NFL safety and two-time Super Bowl champion Malcolm Jenkins will serve as celebrity host.
According to Fox 28, the KBK Foundation is bringing the expo back to Columbus for the fifth time, with the VIP opening night reception scheduled for Thursday before free public exhibitions take over November 13 and 14 from noon to 8 p.m. The event is presented by the KBK Foundation in partnership with the King Arts Complex, and organizers describe it as powered by the Greater Columbus Arts Council along with other sponsors and donors, per the same report. Jenkins, described in the Fox 28 report as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, advocate for social change, and a collector of Black fine art in his own right, steps into the host role for this year's gathering.
A Nonprofit Built Around Art and Investment
The expo is organized by the KBK Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 that focuses on economic and community development, social services and the arts, according to Fox 28's reporting. On its own site, the KBK Foundation says its mission is aimed at “bridging today's realities with tomorrow's possibilities,” and the foundation frames the expo specifically as highlighting the value of Black fine art as both a representation of Black culture and a valuable investment.
That dual framing — art as cultural force and financial asset — isn't new to this year's event. Coverage of an earlier edition of the expo similarly described the goal of myfox28columbus.com's reporting as “elevating Black Fine Art not only as a powerful cultural force but as a strategic investment.” The KBK Foundation's own materials echo that view of Black art as a vehicle for storytelling, cultural preservation and empowerment.
Galleries and Dealers From Columbus and Beyond
This year's expo is set to feature galleries, art collectors and Black artists from Columbus and around the world, per the Fox 28 report. The KBK Foundation's website similarly notes that participating galleries and Black fine art dealers are chosen by the foundation from Columbus and across the country. The King Arts Complex lists the expo on its own events calendar, introducing it as a KBK Foundation event hosted at the complex.
The pattern of drawing dealers from across the country isn't new either. An earlier edition of the expo, held at KBK Enterprises in Columbus, was similarly billed as bringing galleries and dealers from across the nation together to celebrate, explore and invest in Black fine art, according to the same Fox 28 coverage of that prior installment. That earlier expo was curated by Lyn Logan-Grimes, with U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty serving as honorary chair.
Honoring a Former Columbus Mayor
This year, the honorary chair role goes to former Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman, who will be recognized at the 2026 expo. Per Fox 28's reporting, Coleman championed economic revitalization, cultural preservation and the arts during his time in office, including work tied to the King-Lincoln District and the Lincoln Theatre — a legacy organizers are tying directly to the expo's themes of community investment through the arts.
Event date listings have varied slightly across sources: Fox 28 reports the expo runs November 12 through 14, 2026, at the King Arts Complex, with the VIP reception on the 12th and free public exhibitions on the 13th and 14th from noon to 8 p.m. A separate Eventbrite listing describes the 2026 expo as returning Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14. Attendees are encouraged to confirm specific hours and reception details directly before planning a visit.
