Philadelphia Museum of Art Commemorates the Deceased Noah Davis

The Philadelphia Art Museum will present the concluding venue of Noah Davis' globally touring retrospective.

Noah Davis's subjects are manifestations of quotidian experiences. Enchanting, blurring at the peripheries, yet fundamentally human and immediate, it serves as a medium to articulate the surrealism of empathy and vulnerability, allowing Davis to convey the intricacies and sensitivities of Black American existence.

After exhibitions in Potsdam, London, and Los Angeles, the Philadelphia Art Museum is preparing for the fourth and final segment of the international retrospective honouring the late painter. The exhibition will examine the entirety of Davis' artistic oeuvre, featuring 60 works encompassing painting, sculpture, paper-based art, and curatorial endeavours.

Alongside his artistic endeavours, a fundamental aspect of Davis' legacy was his dedication to accessibility. Several years prior to his premature demise in 2015, he co-established the Underground Museum alongside his wife, the sculptor Karon Davis. During its decade-long presence in Arlington Heights, the project, widely regarded as a living artwork, was celebrated as a premier institution for Black art in America, providing museum-quality shows in a no-cost community venue within a working-class area.

Davis is considered as one of the most significant figurative painters of his generation. Davis demonstrated a remarkable proficiency with paint, as evidenced in notable works including “40 Acres and a Unicorn” (2007), the esteemed 2014 series “Pueblo del Rio,” and the subtly opulent “Isis” (2009). His compositions, intricate and enigmatic, cast a surreal perspective on mundane sights and circumstances, transforming even the most commonplace occasions into subjects deserving of meticulous attention and reflection.

The exhibition will be displayed in Philadelphia from January 24 to April 26, 2026. Visit the museum's website for additional information regarding visitation procedures.

Philadelphia Museum of Art 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130