Artist Talk, April 29, 6pm

Join us for a special Artist Talk with The Royal Kingbee, commissioned as part of our Rotunda Series. In conjunction with our current exhibition, The Painted Word: Text, Gesture, and Expression in Contemporary Art. The Royal King Bee will discuss the creation of his Rotunda mural, reflect on his artistic journey, and share his deep connection to The Bronx.

The conversation will be led by noted street photographer and author Kurt Boone.

This is a unique opportunity to hear directly from the artist about their process, influences, and the intersection of text and visual expression in their work.The Royal Kingbee (Alfredo Bennett)

The Beeutiful Bronx, 2026

Site-specific Mural, Lehman College Art Gallery Rotunda

Courtesy of the artist

Alfredo Bennett, known as Royal Kingbee, transforms the Lehman College Art Gallery Rotunda into a vibrant celebration of Bronx neighborhoods with his signature honeycomb pattern for the site-specific mural commissioned for The Painted Word exhibition. Colorful hexagonal cells reminiscent of bee combs contain the names of local communities ─ Mt. Eden, Gun Hill Road, Pelham, Morris Park, Grand Concourse, West Farms, and many others. Each neighborhood name is rendered in Bennett's distinctive hand-lettering, with fonts created entirely from his imagination and don't follow any known typography. Golden honey drips connect the cells, speaking to the richness of the Bronx, while the silhouette of the Bronx skyline anchors the composition. Born in Harlem and a Bronx resident since age three, Bennett became known as King Bee because he was the eldest of four boys. Although there are queen bees, there is no king bee in nature. He first developed his bee imagery intrigued by the insect’s black-and-yellow color combination, then discovered that bees come in many colors, which made him incredibly happy. King Bee is a significant player in the graffiti world with hundreds of murals completed across all five New York City boroughs and beyond. In the summer of 2026, The Royal Kingbee will publish “The Art of Writing and Outlining,” released by Kurt Boone Books.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Lehman College Art Galley