Zoulikha Bouabdellah
Delphine Coindet
Vava Dudu
Ludivine Gonthier
Roni Landa
Sarah Makharine
Kelly Sinnapah Mary
Ming Smith
ACT 2
Pat Andrea
Vincent Beaurin
Robert Combas
Vava Dudu
Sarah Makharine
Marlène Mocquet
Valentin van der Meulen
FOYER
Jean-Claude Bouillon-Baker
Brian Bouillon-Baker
Catel & Bocquet
Paul Colin
Giulia D'Anna Lupo
Léa Grillère
Romain Hugault
Catel Muller
Musée Joséphine Baker & des afro-descendants
Confiture Parisienne
Dove Perspicacius
BLACK VÉNUS is a group exhibition paying tribute to Joséphine Baker. A multifaceted icon of the 20th century, she made history as a pioneering figure in multiple fields.
A star, she was the first Black artist to achieve an international career, captivating audiences worldwide with her dance, singing, and acting. She defined the Roaring Twenties, electrified Parisian nightlife, and filled cabarets with performances such as La Revue Nègre. She influenced fashion and hairstyling and entertained crowds with her legendary facial expressions.
A free woman, she had five husbands, lovers of both sexes, and pushed the boundaries of social conventions. A hedonist and polyamorous figure, she lived openly, embracing her bisexuality and celebrating the erotic and sensual nature of her body.
A political woman, she worked as a spy for France during World War II, flew planes as a lieutenant, was awarded the Légion d’Honneur for her service, and in 2021, her remains were transferred to the Panthéon.
An "African" woman, she responded to the colonial gaze by caricaturing Black people as perceived by white audiences—on stage, she embodied the exaggerated stereotype of an African woman. At a time when exoticism was in high demand, she played with folkloric clichés, most famously with her banana belt. She also traveled for years with her pet cheetah, Chiquita.
An activist, during the era of segregation, she demanded that her concerts be performed before mixed audiences, bringing Black and white people together. She supported Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1963 March on Washington and delivered a speech that left a lasting impact. A feminist ahead of her time, she championed gender equality and ultimately lived out her later years in solitude.
A mother, she created the Rainbow Tribe at Château des Milandes by adopting 12 children from around the world. Her family embodied the idea of a "Global Village" free of racism, where universal fraternity and peace could thrive. The Rainbow Tribe became a symbol of tolerance and openness, influencing public opinion and helping to popularize international adoption.
This exhibition does not aim to faithfully retrace Joséphine Baker’s life but rather to create an artistic portrait shaped by metaphors, echoes, and reinterpretations. It invites viewers to see contemporary artists through the lens of Baker’s legacy.
Designed as a cabaret, the exhibition unfolds in multiple acts: a performative prologue during the opening, a first act at Galerie Strouk, a second act at their booth at Art Paris, and a musical and festive epilogue at the closing event. Robert Combas serves as the backbone of this tribute, with his works anchoring the exhibition’s various themes. Eight female artists explore different aspects of Baker’s legacy through newly created works, while five Galerie Strouk artists will present pieces at Art Paris at the Grand Palais. Over seven weeks, discussions and events will feature artists, writers, scholars, illustrators, actors, and activists, offering deeper insights into Joséphine Baker’s enduring influence.
This event aligns with Paris Noir, a major exhibition on Pan-African art at the Centre Pompidou (March 19 – June 30, 2025). It also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Joséphine Baker’s passing and the 100th anniversary of her groundbreaking debut in La Revue Nègre.
PROGRAM:
March 13, 2025,
6 PM – 9 PM
Performative opening with DJ Mehdi Baker from Banana Café, Drag Queen, and Gogo Dancer.
March 13, 2025,
From 9 PM
Festive afterparty "BLACK VÉNUS" at Banana Café, 13 rue de la Ferronnerie, 75001 Paris (free entry with the vernissage e-invitation).
April 3, 2025,
7 PM
"Drag & Museum" evening with Brian Scott Bagley, founder of the Joséphine Baker and Afro-descendants Museum in Paris.
April 10, 2025,
7 PM
Tasting evening featuring the "Joséphine Baker" jam and a meeting with Nadège Gaultier and Laura Goninet, co-founders of Confiture Parisienne.
April 12, 2025,
7 PM
"Living Paintings" evening with director Vincent Huguet and curator Martin Kiefer, featuring a selection of works on display.
April 16, 2025,
7 PM
"BANANA" Debate Night, hosted by Arnaud Laporte (producer and journalist, France Culture), with Vava Dudu (artist), Alicia Knock (curator and head of contemporary art & foresight, Centre Pompidou) and Pierre-Yves Geoffard (economist).
April 24, 2025,
7 PM
"Comics Night" with Catel Muller and José-Louis Bocquet, authors of the graphic novel Joséphine Baker (Casterman), and Brian and Jean-Claude Bouillon-Baker, her sons and biographers. With the participation of Jean-Pierre Hadida and Ursula Ravelomanantsoa, from the musical Joséphine Baker – Le Musical, cat the Théâtre Bobino.
April 26, 2025,
7:30 PM
Closing event with a concert by LA CHATTE, featuring Vava Dudu and musicians Stéphane Argillet and Nicolas Jorio.
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING :
Rue du mail
March 19 - June 30
VÉNUS NOIRE is part of the program for “Paris Noir”, a major exhibition on pan-African art at the Centre Pompidou (March 19 to June 30, 2025, curated by Alicia Knock). The space at 5, rue du Mail is available for the Parisian institution’s off, enabling complementary events to be programmed.