The Centre Pompidou in Paris is currently hosting Paris Noir, a powerful new exhibition that honours the extraordinary contributions of Black artists to Paris’s postwar art scene. Bringing together more than 350 works by 150 artists of African, Caribbean, and American descent, the show explores a period of radical creativity and cultural exchange that helped shape the city's modern identity.

For many of these artists, Paris was a refuge—an international, cosmopolitan space that allowed creative freedom beyond the political constraints of their home countries. From the 1950s through the early 2000s, artists and intellectuals like Wifredo Lam, Beauford Delaney, Aimé Césaire, Frantz Fanon, and Josephine Baker became central figures in the cultural life of the French capital.

Visitors can explore diverse visual languages including abstraction, surrealism, and free figuration. The exhibition presents not only visual art but also poetry, music, and political thought—giving life to a movement shaped by diaspora, resistance, and imagination.

Among the contemporary highlights are installations by artists such as Valérie John, Jay Ramier, and Shuck One. The latter’s work pays tribute to Black historical figures who influenced France both within its borders and across its former colonies.

Open from 19 March to 30 June 2025, Paris Noir is more than an art exhibition—it is a powerful reminder of how diasporic narratives have long been intertwined with the cultural and political fabric of Paris. It invites us to reimagine art history through a more inclusive lens, acknowledging the global influence of Black creativity.

Sources:

• Yahoo! News – Paris Noir Exhibition Showcases Art Made in France by Black Artists

• The Guardian – Exhibition Shines Light on Black Artists in Postwar Paris

• RFI – Paris Noir Exhibition Highlights Black Artists’ Contributions

• AP News – Paris Exhibit Celebrates Black History Through Art

• Sortir à Paris – Paris Noir at the Centre Pompidou