Artists Noah Davis, Kahlil Joseph
Venue Frye Art Museum
Celebrating the life and legacy of painter, curator, and visionary artist Noah Davis (1983–2015), Young Blood places Davis’ work in the context of an ongoing visual dialogue with his elder brother, artist and filmmaker, Kahlil Joseph. The title, Young Blood, comes from a name Joseph bestowed on Davis, both a term of endearment and a declaration of a common starting point.
The largest and widest selection of work by Davis and Joseph ever shown in a museum, Young Blood highlights the notion of a narrative continuum built through varied mediums of contemporary storytelling—including painting, sculpture, film, and installation—that creates an immersive sensory experience. The exhibition explores concepts that Davis brought to the forefront of discussions about access, class, and the creation of independent art spaces, such as The Underground Museum in Los Angeles, which he founded with his wife Karon Davis in 2012.
Organized by the Frye Art Museum and conceived and curated by Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes, a Seattle-based artist, Young Blood continues Davis’ exploration of the ways in which spaces such as The Underground Museum interact, intersect, and exchange value with traditional arts institutions. Young Blood is a celebration of black culture, spirituality, and creative legacy.
