"The Bars Eating Meeting" Original

THE BARS EATING MEETING
Acrylic and crystals on canvas, 60" x 72" — 2024
by Justin Michael Wadlington

Enter The Bars Eating Meeting, a painting that goes far beyond its three familiar faces — Jay-Z, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar. While inspired by Jay-Z and Drake's 2010 song "Light Up" and the real-life rivalry it seemed to predict, the piece is built on a deeper layer of meaning — drawing from The Godfather, with a title that plays on the character Barzini and the idea of "bars" as lyrics and "eating" as listening. Subtle religious symbols and the recurring theme of duality run throughout, and the figures are shown not in conflict but in quiet, tense conversation, told entirely through body language and expression.

The Bars Eating Meeting is a conversation piece for any space, rewarding anyone willing to look past the surface for the deeper story underneath.

Giclée print, gallery-wrapped canvas, framed over 1.5" wood. Made in USA. Hand signed and dated by artist Justin Michael Wadlington.