DURHAM, N.C. -- Legendary artist Ernie Barnes' 80th birthday celebration was, to quote the title of one of his paintings, a homecoming.

• Barnes is best known for painting the cover to the Marvin Gaye album "I Want You" and his paintings' appearances in the show "Good Times."
• Barnes' estate also announced at the birthday celebration that many of his original paintings will soon be donated to his alma mater's art museum
• Most of Barnes' work is now being exhibited at the North Carolina Museum of History

Barnes died in 2009, but his estate and alma mater--North Carolina Central University--honored the former painter and football player as if he had never left. A sizable crowd packed into an auditorium on NCCU's campus to hear family and friends pay tribute to Barnes.

"His work is about our people, our heritage, our legacy," said Troy Vincent, a friend of Barnes and one of the largest private collectors of his artwork. "It's about black excellence, and that's what he demonstrated."

Barnes is best known for painting the cover to the Marvin Gaye album "I Want You" and his paintings' appearances in the show "Good Times." His daughters told the full house at NCCU's auditorium that he passed down his passion for creativity to them.

"We were never allowed to have coloring books," remembered daughter Diedra Barnes. "Dad says he did not want us to color within the lines; we were given drawing paper and plenty of crayons and told to observe the world around us."

Barnes' estate also announced at the birthday celebration that many of his original paintings will soon be donated to his alma mater's art museum.

"We have been working extremely hard to bring Ernie back home," said NC Central Trustee Emeritus Avon Ruffin.

Most of Barnes' work is now being exhibited at the North Carolina Museum of History.