Pompidou's landmark exhibit spotlights decades of Black art and resistance

An unprecedented exhibition at the Pompidou Center in Paris explores the presence and influence of Black artists in the city from the 1950s to 2000, offering a vibrant immersion in France's cosmopolitan capital and a history of anti-colonial, civil rights struggles.

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The “Black Paris” exhibition features the works of about 150 major artists of African descent, many of whom have never or rarely been displayed in France before. Running from March 19 to June 30, it’s one of the final shows before the museum closes for a five-year renovation later this year. Éva Barois De Caevel, associate curator, said that the exhibition is “unprecedented,” with more than 300 paintings and sculptures by artists of various backgrounds.

“Some are African Americans, some are Caribbeans, some are Africans, and some are Afro-descendants,” said Barois De Caevel, adding that the focus of the exhibit is not geography or race, but rather “Black consciousness,” shaped by the history of slavery and experience of racism shared by Black artists. After World War II, many African American painters, musicians, and intellectuals flocked to Paris, seeking a sense of freedom that they couldn't find in the United States at the time. Barois De Caevel pointed out that for many, Paris represented a break from the racial segregation that they faced back home.