Barbican announces retrospective of Noah Davis and new exhibition by Citra Sasmita

Noah Davis retrospective and Citra Sasmita's UK debut highlight Barbican's 2025 programme.

Noah Davis at work, Los Angeles, 2009 Photo: Patrick O’Brien-Smith.

The Barbican Art Gallery will host the largest institutional survey to date of the late American artist Noah Davis from 6 February - 11 May 2025. Spanning over 50 works, this exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of Davis' remarkable career, showcasing his prowess in painting and his contributions to curating and community-building through co-founding The Underground Museum. Davis, primarily based in Los Angeles, depicted diverse aspects of Black life, drawing inspiration from various sources including anonymous photography, literature, and personal archives. His figurative paintings capture scenes both realistic and dreamlike, reflecting a deep empathy for humanity and everyday experiences. The retrospective, organised chronologically, offers insight into Davis' relentless curiosity and his profound impact on art and community engagement.

Noah Davis, Pueblo del Rio: Arabesque, 2014 © The Estate of Noah Davis
Courtesy The Estate of Noah Davis and David Zwirner.

Indonesian artist Citra Sasmita will debut her first solo exhibition in the UK at The Curve from 30 January- 20 April 2025. Sasmita's multidisciplinary practice, encompassing painting, sculpture, embroidery, and scent, invites visitors on a symbolic, multi-sensory journey through the 90-metre-long gallery. Through her exploration of ancestral memory, ritual, and migration, Sasmita challenges gender hierarchies and reinterprets Balinese mythologies, reclaiming the traditional Kamasan painting technique. Her powerful narratives feature strong female protagonists in a post-patriarchal world, confronting misconceptions of Balinese culture and its colonial history. Sasmita's exhibition promises to be a captivating exploration of identity and cultural resilience.

Installation view of Citra Sasmita, Timur Merah Project XII: Rivers With No End, as part of After Rain, Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, 2024 Courtesy of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation Photo: Marco Cappelletti.

With these two groundbreaking exhibitions, the Barbican continues its commitment to showcasing diverse artistic voices and providing enriching experiences for audiences.