The DuSable Announces Major Exhibition Opening


The DuSable Announces Major Exhibition Opening

 “Paris in Black: Internationalism and the Black Renaissance” Showcases the Global Journeys of Black American Artists 

CHICAGO (November 6, 2025) – A new major exhibition, “Paris in Black: Internationalism and the Black Renaissance,” will open at The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center (The DuSable) on Saturday, November 22, 2025. This new exhibition highlights the personal narratives and artistic contributions of Black American artists who migrated to Europe—particularly Paris—as early as the 1890s in search of creative freedom and refuge from racial oppression in the United States.

“We’re thrilled to present these powerful narratives of Black cultural pride and resilience—stories that sparked a cultural awakening across the Atlantic and inspired freedom and hope for those who remained stateside,” said Perri Irmer, President and CEO of The DuSable. “As the nation’s oldest independent Black History Museum, we’re proud to showcase this extraordinary exhibit drawn almost entirely from our own permanent collection.”

With over 100 objects, including fine art, archival photographs and letters, fashion, ephemera, and multimedia components, Paris in Black tells a global story of Black resilience and creativity. The exhibition begins with origins of Black international pursuits in the late 1800s taking  viewers on a journey through the decades ending with Black fashion in Paris in the 1990s. Visitors will experience the stories of iconic figures such as Josephine Baker, whose electrifying performances and social activism profoundly impacted the Jazz Age and the Civil Rights Movement—Archibald Motley, whose vivid canvases celebrated Black life—and James Baldwin, whose literary voice challenged notions of identity and belonging.

“Paris in Black explores how transatlantic exchange fueled not only personal transformation but also collective cultural revolution—laying the foundation for movements like Chicago’s own Black Renaissance,” said Danny Dunson, Director of Curatorial Services and Arts Education at The DuSable. “Through a cross-cultural exchange, internationalism proved to be essential to the revolutionary power and legacy of the Black Renaissance.”

Paris in Black honors both those who physically migrated and those who, inspired from afar, contributed to an international dialogue that redefined Black identity, modernism, and liberation. Paris, in particular, offered a more liberated environment, inspiring generations of artists, thinkers, and creative entrepreneurs.

“At the heart of the exhibition stands a re-creation of the Arc de Triomphe, reimagined within The DuSable’s context as a symbolic gateway for Black creativity and resilience,” said Martin Giese, Vice President of Exhibitions and Collections, “The installation invites visitors to reflect on the journeys of those who sought artistic and personal liberation abroad. Drawing from the Museum’s extensive collection—and through immersive design and historical reflection—Paris in Black explores Paris as both a physical and imaginative space where Black identity, creativity, and endurance continue to inspire new generations.”

Paris in Black will be featured on the Bloomberg Connects app, the free arts and culture guide that extends the exhibition experience beyond the museum. Through this digital platform, audiences can access exclusive curatorial commentary, archival materials, and multimedia features offering deeper insight into the artists, movements, and global exchanges that shaped the Black Renaissance in Paris. For more details on The DuSable Museum’s new exhibition and other upcoming events and exhibits, visit www.dusablemuseum.org/paris-in-black/ or follow @dusablemuseum.


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