Unpacking the Enduring Impact of Noah Davis’ Artistic Legacy through the Eyes of Karon Davis
Karon Davis‘ words, spoken upon returning from the opening of her husband Noah Davis‘s retrospective at the Barbican in London, are a poignant testament to the lasting impact he has had on contemporary art. ‘Noah is my Osiris,’ she said. ‘He will live forever through his work. My assignment is to gather these parts of my love and protect them.’
Karon Davis is an American artist known for her large-scale installations and mixed-media works that explore themes of violence, trauma, and the African American experience.
Born in 1977 in Memphis, Tennessee, 'her work often incorporates found objects and materials to create powerful and thought-provoking pieces' as stated by Davis, Davis' work often incorporates found objects and materials to create powerful and thought-provoking pieces.
She has exhibited her work internationally, including at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and the Whitney Biennial.
The major touring exhibition, which brings together approximately sixty works spanning Noah Davis‘s complete oeuvre, offers a comprehensive overview of the artist’s profoundly imaginative practice as a world-builder. Through his art, Noah Davis questioned the reality around him, leaving an enduring mark on contemporary Black culture.
Noah Davis was an American artist, known for his vibrant and expressive paintings.
Born in 1983, he rose to prominence in the Los Angeles art scene before his untimely death in 2015.
Davis's work often explored themes of identity, community, and social justice.
He was a co-founder of the Underground Museum, a contemporary art space in Los Angeles that showcased works by emerging artists.
Davis's paintings are characterized by their bold colors and energetic brushstrokes.
A Shared Vision
Karon Davis and Noah Davis met when she was working as an assistant for a film director in L.A. They married in 2008 in a Miami courthouse during Art Basel, marking the beginning of their intertwined lives and artistic paths. Their relationship shaped and fueled the trajectory of their creative legacies.
The couple’s commitment to merging their artistic practices with a militant spirit led them to co-found the Underground Museum in Los Angeles alongside other artists and curators. The institution quickly became a groundbreaking force, dedicated to amplifying diverse voices and challenging traditional hierarchies in the art world.
A Multidisciplinary Artist
‘Ancient Reign,’ a show at David Zwirner‘s Upper East Side location, offered a rare look at Noah Davis‘ formative collages and works on paper. Karon Davis selected these pieces to share with the public, showcasing her husband’s multidisciplinary approach to art-making.
The collages, often set against a deep black backdrop, juxtapose disparate sources and symbologies to unveil hidden correspondences and activate new meanings. Time, space, and different cultures collide and collapse within the confines of these multilayered compositions.
A Shared Fascination with Ancient Egypt
Karon Davis‘ recent performance at the Metropolitan Museum created a rare opportunity to draw parallels between her work and Noah‘s. The references to Ancient Egypt—particularly its symbols and influence on Black culture—are a common thread through both artists’ practices.
Noah Davis‘ paintings, including those shown at Zwirner, demonstrate his own fascination with Egyptian mythology and iconography. In ‘Untitled (2015),’ he juxtaposes the base of an Egyptian sculpture with the iconic image of Diana, Princess of Wales, creating a visual parallel that invites layers of critical and political interpretation.
A Bridge to His Legacy
For Karon Davis, Noah‘s art remains a bridge to his legacy—a way to carry forward and nurture their shared vision and inspiration through her own evolving practice. In ‘Pain Management,’ a show at Wilding Cran Gallery in Los Angeles, she featured a central piece that Noah had urged her to finish shortly before his death.
The pages from the book he created for the Underground Museum are another blueprint left behind by Noah for Karon to follow. The book is a testament to their shared vision and inspiration, guiding her decisions about the garden and building of the museum.
Noah Davis‘ Legacy Continues
Noah Davis‘ largest survey to date is on view at the Barbican Centre in London through May 11, 2025. This exhibition provides an opportunity for audiences to engage with his profoundly imaginative practice as a world-builder and to experience the enduring legacy he has left behind.
As Karon Davis so eloquently put it, ‘Noah is my Osiris.’ Through their art, the couple’s shared vision and inspiration continue to shape and fuel contemporary Black culture, leaving an indelible mark on the world of art.
