Paris Honors Iconic Black Artists in Bold Tribute

Paris Pays Tribute to Black Artists

3 April 2025
Article by Elinor Byrne | 5 MIN READ

"The exhibition allows us to see the richness of these artists who came to Paris, many of whom were also philosophers and poets and whose works have not been seen before in France."

— Alicia Knock, Lead Curator, Paris Noir: Artistic Movements and Anticolonial Struggles, 1950–2000

Dateline: London, UK – 25 March, 2025

The Pompidou Centre in Paris is hosting its final major exhibition before its five-year renovation, highlighting the work of Black artists who made the French capital their creative home from the 1950s to the 2000s.

Opened on 17th March, “Paris Noir: Artistic Movements and Anticolonial Struggles, 1950–2000” celebrates the significant yet often overlooked contributions of over 150 African, American, Caribbean, and Afro-descendant artists. This historic exhibition not only showcases the diverse artistic output of these creators, but also pays homage to Paris as a global hub for creative expression.

A painting by Everlyn Nicodemus featuring a black, abstract human figure positioned within a geometric interior space. Bold colours and shapes dominate the composition, including a dark figure against a contrasting white and blue background, with green leaves and an orange floor. The artwork blends figurative and abstract elements, reflecting themes of identity and space.

The Wedding 45, 1991 · Everlyn Nicodemus · Oil on canvas · Copyright the Artist. National Galleries of Scotland. Purchased with help from the Olive Pollock Morris Bequest and the Cecil & Mary Gibson Bequest, with contributions from private donors, 2024

A self-portrait painting by Gerard Sekoto depicting the artist with a thoughtful expression. The portrait features warm, earthy tones with contrasting shadows, highlighting Sekoto’s facial features against a textured background. The artwork reflects a sense of introspection, capturing both the artist’s identity and his emotional depth.

Self-portrait, 1947 · Gerard Sekoto · The Kilbourn Collection © Estate of Gerard Sekoto/Adagp, Paris, 2025 · Photo © Jacopo Salvi

The timing of the “Paris Noir” exhibition at the Pompidou Centre is significant, as it will be the museum’s final major show before closing for extensive renovations. Running from 19 March to 30 June 2025, it gives audiences a unique opportunity to explore works that have shaped Paris’s artistic and cultural landscape.

The exhibition features 350 works by 150 artists, including pieces by Wifredo Lam, Gerard Sekoto Beauford Delaney, Grace Jones, and Edinburgh-based Everlyn Nicodemus. It also honours intellectuals like Frantz Fanon, Aimé Césaire, and Edward Glissant, whose ideas influenced the artistic movements of the time.

For many Black artists, postwar Paris became a cosmopolitan hub where they could in-part escape the racial injustices of their home countries. As American painter Beauford Delaney once said, “The colour of my skin didn’t matter” in this vibrant, creative community. The exhibition captures this feeling, showing how Paris served as both a refuge and a source of inspiration for Black artists.

“Paris Noir” not only traces the development of Black artistry in the French capital but also highlights how these artists played a key role in reshaping modern and postmodern art. The exhibition covers a range of artistic movements, from Afro-Atlantic abstractions to surrealism and free figuration, highlighting the diversity and depth of creative expression within the Black diaspora.

The exhibition also looks at over 50 years of struggles for emancipation, from African independence movements to the end of apartheid and ongoing battles against racism in France. At the heart of the exhibition is a circular matrix symbolising the Black Atlantic – an ocean depicted as a disk, representing the Caribbean and the “Whole-World” concept as described by Martinican poet Edouard Glissant – a metaphor for Paris.

Visitors will see new installations created specifically for the exhibition by contemporary artists such as Valérie John, Nathalie Leroy Fiévee, Jay Ramier, and Shuck One. These modern works are seamlessly integrated into the exhibition, creating a dialogue between past and present artistic practices.

In addition to the exhibition itself, there is also be a series of related events around Paris, including an exhibition by Frank Bowling, as well as film screenings, talks, and performances.

References:

Centre Pompidou, 2025. Paris Noir – Artistic Movements and Anticolonial Struggles, 1950–2000. [Accessed 25 Apr. 2025]

The Guardian, 2025. The Colour of My Skin Didn’t Matter: Exhibition Shines Light on Black Artists in Postwar Paris. [Accessed 25 Apr. 2025]

RFI, 2025. Paris Noir Exhibition Showcases Work Made in French Capital by Black Artists. [Accessed 25 Apr. 2025]

Banner Artwork: The Jungle (La Jungla). 1943 · Wifredo Lam · Gouache on paper mounted on canvas, 94 1/4 × 90 1/2″ (239.4 × 229.9 cm) · Inter-American Fund. © 2022 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York/ADAGP, Paris

Note: Artworks are illustrative and may not appear in the exhibition.