Philadelphia Art Museum Honors the Late Noah Davis
Over 60 pieces from the artist of a generation.
Summary
- The Philadelphia Art Museum will host the final stop of Noah Davis’ internationally touring retrospective
- Opening January 24, the exhibition will feature 60 works spanning painting, sculpture, works on paper and curatorial projects
Noah Davis‘s subjects are things of everyday apparitions. Magical, fading around the edges, yet humane and present above all, it’s a language to sound out the surrealism of empathy and vulnerability, a way for Davis to reflect the realities of Black American life, in all of its complexities and tenderness.
Following stops in Potsdam, London and Los Angeles, the Philadelphia Art Museum is readying the fourth and final leg of the international retrospective dedicated to the late painter. The exhibition will explore the full scope of Davis’ artistry, gathering 60 pieces across painting, sculpture, works on paper and curatorial projects.
In addition to his art practice, a defining pillar of Davis’ legacy, was his commitment to accessibility. A few years before his untimely passing in 2015, he co-founded the Underground Museum with his wife, the sculptor Karon Davis. In its 10-year tenure in Arlington Heights, the project, largely considered a living artwork itself, was heralded as a foremost institution for Black art in America, delivering museum-caliber exhibitions as a cost-free community space in a working-class neighborhood.
Davis is widely regarded as one of the most vital figurative painters of his generation. As seen in highlights, such as “40 Acres and a Unicorn” (2007), the acclaimed 2014 series, “Pueblo del Rio” and the quietly luxuriant “Isis” (2009), Davis had a way with paint. His compositions, rich and shadowy, turned a dreamy lens onto everyday scenes and situations, elevating even the most ordinary moments into those worthy of close care and contemplation.
The exhibition will be on view in Philadelphia from January 24 through April 26, 2026. Check out the museum’s website for more information on how to visit.
Philadelphia Art Museum
2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy,
Philadelphia, PA 19130
