Opening on March 20th at Perrotin Gallery, Paris, is the “Femmes” exhibition, curated by Pharrell Williams, in celebration of women at the close of Women’s Month. Inspired by the Women of African Descent, this exhibition reflects Pharrell’s vision, highlighting the transformative and ever-changing experiences, forms, and essence of women.
Set against a backdrop of African heritage, Femmes features inspiring works by artists such as Joana Choumali (b. 1974, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire), Malala Andrialavidrazana (b. 1971, Madagascar), Thandiwe Muriu (b. 1990, Nairobi), Esther Mahlangu (b. 1935, South Africa), Kapwani Kiwanga (b. 1979, Canadian/Tanzanian), Zanele Muholi (b. 1972, Umlazi, South Africa), Prince Gyasi (b. 1995, Ghana), Naomi Lulendo (b. 1994, Congo), Tschabalala Self (b. 1990, New York), Emma Prempeh (b. 1996, British Ghanaian), and Georgina Maxim (b. 1980, Zimbabwe), alongside notable Black artists like Carrie Mae Weems and Henry Taylor.
“As Black women are important figures of personal inspiration for Pharrell, their kaleidoscopic representation forms the core matrix of ‘FEMMES’,” according to the Perrotin Instagram account.
Titled Femmes, the exhibition takes its meaning from the French word for “woman.” While the word “woman” can carry many connotations, it directly refers to the female sex. Femmes embodies this fluid meaning, challenging the stereotypical representations of women often seen in the media. Pharrell honours this ambiguity with the title femmes. In this way, Femmes celebrates the evolving nature of women, free from restrictive narratives.
Through remarkable works in textiles, paintings, photography, digital prints, ink, film, hypermedia, sculptures, and works on glass, the exhibition displays the multiplicity and infinite depictions of the female form. These artists use diverse mediums to explore and showcase the many facets of the female experience.
Founded in 1990 by Emmanuel Perrotin, Perrotin Gallery has expanded over the years to include editorial content, educational workshops, and concerts. With locations in Hong Kong, Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Seoul, Tokyo, and Shanghai, the gallery continues to champion contemporary art worldwide. Over the years, it has presented works by notable artists such as Takashi Murakami, MSCHF, and Maurizio Cattelan. This exhibition marks the first time the gallery will showcase such a large number of Black artists under a Black curator.
Pharrell Williams, a singer-songwriter and Men’s Creative Director at Louis Vuitton has brought new energy to the brand, continuing to advocate for the representation of Black creatives across various industries, including fashion, music, and now, art. Femmes is his second curation with Perrotin Gallery, following his 2014 exhibition Girl, which also celebrated women.
The Femmes exhibition opens on March 20th and runs through April 19th at Perrotin’s Paris location. Click here to view the Perrotin catalogue.
