As the Centre Pompidou prepares to close for renovation, the “Paris Noir” exhibition is establishing itself as a highlight on the French cultural scene. Alongside it, the Fondation Clément, the cultural arm of the GBH (Groupe Bernard Hayot) group, plays a decisive role in promoting Caribbean art.
A unique tribute to black artists from France and overseas
Presented since March at the Centre Pompidou, the “Paris Noir” exhibition traces the influence of black artists in France between 1950 and 2000. Through a richly documented itinerary, it offers rare visibility to artistic trajectories that have been marginalized for too long. And the public has responded: over 200,000 visitors have already passed through the museum’s doors.
Of the 150 artists on show, 26 are from the French overseas departments and territories, including 17 from Martinique. This strong representation underlines the richness of Caribbean plastic expression in the French artistic landscape. As the Centre Pompidou’s historic building approaches closure for renovation (until 2030), “Paris Noir” looks set to be one of the site’s last major cultural events before its transformation.
The Clément Foundation, patron and transmitter of memory
At the heart of this project, the Clément Foundation, GBH’s corporate foundation, is once again affirming its commitment to culture in the French overseas territories. It is participating in the exhibition as a patron and lender of works of art. Five major pieces from its collections are presented, signed by such emblematic figures as Victor Anicet, Ernest Breleur, Henri Guédon, Khokho (Joseph René-Corail) and Hervé Télémaque.
For Bernard Hayot, Chairman of the Clément Foundation, this support is a logical extension of the group’s historic commitment: “Supporting the Paris Noir exhibition is an extension of our concrete commitment to promoting the influence of the French overseas territories by shedding light on a Caribbean artistic history that has long been left in the shadows”.
Nearly twenty years of cultural action in Martinique and beyond
Founded nearly two decades ago, the Fondation Clément is now one of the leading cultural players in the French-speaking Caribbean. Located at Habitation Clément in Martinique, it has hosted over 140 exhibitions and supported more than 200 Caribbean artists. Every year, some 200,000 visitors flock to this site, which has become the island’s leading tourist attraction and one of the busiest in the region.
Over the years, the Foundation has built strong partnerships with major French and international cultural institutions, such as the Centre Pompidou, RMN Grand Palais and the Fondation Dapper. These collaborations have given works and artists from the French overseas territories access to prestigious stages.
Between contemporary creation and heritage
The Clément Foundation does not stop at exhibitions. It is also involved in preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the Caribbean. In particular, it is behind the restoration of the Memorial to the 1902 disaster and, since 2019, the management of the Frank A. Perret Museum in Saint-Pierre.
At the same time, it supports the conservation of private archives, the publication of works on art and history, and the enhancement of historic dwellings that bear witness to Martinique’s traditional architecture.
A shared conviction: culture as a lever for the future
Through its support for “Paris Noir”, GBH, via the Clément Foundation, confirms that culture is a strategic lever for the transmission, memory and development of territories. This positioning is part of a long-term vision, in which art and heritage are seen as fundamental elements of overseas identity.
The participation of the Centre Pompidou in this event, which is undergoing a metamorphosis that will culminate in its reopening in 2030, symbolizes this ambition: to bring the Caribbean into dialogue with Europe and Africa, in a museum setting of reference.
From the "Paris Noir" exhibition © Paris je t'aime
“Paris Noir” is more than an exhibition: it’s a powerful artistic and political gesture, where the voice of Caribbean artists finds an international echo. Thanks to the structuring commitment of the Fondation Clément and the support of the GBH group, this visibility is now possible. A welcome recognition for an artistic history that has all too often remained in the shadows.
