THE PROJECT

WHO IS ERNIE BARNES? is a feature documentary and immersive experience that together form a single cultural system - two entry points into the life, legacy and full activation of one of the most recognized Black visual artists in the world. Ernie Barnes.

The film, created with the Ernie Barnes Estate, establishes emotional and historical gravity. The immersive experience creates mass discovery. Together, they build not a retrospective, but a living introduction to an artist whose vision was decades ahead of his time. 

THE ARTIST

Ernie Barnes (1938–2009) was a once-in-a-generation force: artist, athlete and cultural icon whose work captured motion, music and Black joy with a signature style that resonates today. Widely celebrated as the first American professional athlete to become a noted painter, Barnes transformed his lived experience into a visual language - dynamic, soulful and uniquely his own.

His most iconic work, The Sugar Shack — painted in 1976 — is a global symbol of celebration and community. Featured on Marvin Gaye's I Want You album and immortalized in the opening and closing credits of the groundbreaking Good Times television series, the image has generated over one billion impressions worldwide.

In 2026, we mark the 50th anniversary of The Sugar Shack.  Not only a commemoration, this is a reclamation - an opportunity to reintroduce Ernie Barnes' legacy to a generation that will encounter him properly for the first time. Not as nostalgia. As a living cultural force connecting art, movement, sports, Black history and joy. 

“This film shows a glimpse of Ernie Barnes’ dedication and his remarkable journey, answering why he is the most interesting American painter of the 20th century,” says Luz Rodriguez, Barnes’ longtime assistant and managing director of his estate.

THE FILM

Structured in three acts - following the architecture of their landmark Netflix series - the film is an intimate, layered portrait told through Barnes' own words and vision, alongside commentary from high-profile voices across art, music, sports, dance and entertainment, each bearing witness to his influence on their world.

Directed by Coodie & Chike -  the filmmakers behind Netflix's jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy (Sundance World Premiere, Emmy Nomination, Grierson Award: Best Music Documentary), the ESPN 30 for 30 Benji (Tribeca Gala Film), and the NAACP Image Award-winning Muhammad Ali: The People's Champ — this film carries the full weight of their documentary legacy into a story that is, in many ways, their most personal. 

When asked about making this documentary, Coodie Simmons commented: "You can't let your imagination get in the way of God's manifestation. I dreamed of having Ernie Barnes paintings on my walls, and then I looked up and I was documenting his artistic process in real life."

Chike Ozah reflects on how Ernie Barnes’ impacted him personally as an artist: “I remember looking at his work as a kid and feeling something I'd never felt before - like I had to chase that. His art set the bar for what I thought was possible. In a lot of ways, I've been chasing Ernie Barnes my whole life. Telling his story now feels like a full circle."

THE EXPERIENCE

The film is being brought to life through The Ernie Barnes Experience - an immersive, multi-city tour designed to disrupt traditional film distribution. Each city activation runs 30 days or more in 8,000–10,000 sq. ft. venues. The tour begins with Act 1 of the documentary followed by a physical installation that places audiences inside Barnes' creative process — intimate archival footage, soulful instrumentation, and the raw textures of his studio. Palette scrapes. Brush strokes. Canvas. His voice.

Music composed by Grammy Award-winning artist PJ Morton.  Merchandise collection designed by Don C (Just·Don).

THE ROAD AHEAD

The tour is designed as the Road to Super Bowl 2027 in Los Angeles, extending through LA28  — creating a powerful throughline from when the previous Olympics were hosted by the city and Ernie Barnes was appointed the official Sports Artist of the 1984 Olympic Games. His legacy as athlete, painter and cultural visionary has never been more relevant.

This is not just a film. It is a movement.

THE TEAM

A collection of cultural storytellers — each bringing deep expertise in film, music, fashion, brand and community — united around a story that belongs to everyone.

Directors / Creative Control:  Coodie Simmons & Chike Ozah

Ernie Barnes Estate:  Luz Rodriguez

Executive Producers:  Deon Cole, Kevin Thomson, Greg Griffin

Co-Executive Producer:  Tesa Aragones, AS王ANCY, Kenny “Kool” Clay

Production:  Charleen's Boy Productions, Marjorie Clarke, Tracey Smith

Music:  PJ Morton, Grammy Award Winning Artist

Merchandise:  Don C, Just·Don