Noah Davis’ paintings excavate the lives of ordinary Black Americans, capturing quiet, fantastical, lonely, and profound scenes from their everyday lives. Immortalising these poignant moments in the history of his people was a part of Davis’ deep vocation to preserve Black memories, stories, and folklore that weren’t represented in the canon. In the process of doing so, he also bequeathed the world something incredibly precious of himself that would endure beyond his all-too-brief 32 years. Despite the brevity of his life, Davis left behind an extraordinary body of work amounting to over 400 paintings, collages, and sculptures. This prolific artist also co-founded The Underground Museum along with his widow, artist Karon Davis, and his brother, artist and BLKNWS creator Kahlil Joseph. This entirely Black-owned-and-operated gallery remains dedicated to bringing museum-quality art to Arlington Heights, a disadvantaged Black and Latinx suburb of Los Angeles.
With a book shop selling Black literature and an outdoor space hosting events, yoga, and meditation classes, The Underground Museum not has only become a valued local resource but it’s also achieved international recognition as a cultural highlight for visitors to LA, attracting the likes of Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar who both used the venue to launch albums. It’s also a testament to the will, energy, and ambitious vision of its creators, as well a providing material proof that such a prodigious project can actually be realised. In the first presentation of Davis’ work in the UK, a new exhibition at David Zwirner features over 20 of the artist’s most seminal works alongside models of previous exhibitions curated by Davis at The Underground Museum. The London gallery will also recreate The Underground Museum’s “backroom” – modelled on the real working offices at the heart of the museum’s operation. Visitors to the exhibition will also have the chance to experience Kahlil Joseph’s BLKNWS, the artwork-come-news-network offering an antidote to harmful representations of the Black community in the news cycle. The show will also feature a sculpture by artist Karon Davis, the artist’s widow, and Shelby George furniture, designed by Davis’ mother, Faith Childs-Davis.