Paul R. Williams Exhibition Series Programming

From August 2026 through May 2027, Getty, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and the USC Fisher Museum of Art present a coordinated, multi-site exhibition initiative dedicated to architect Paul R. Williams (1894–1980). Drawing from the Paul R. Williams archive, jointly acquired in 2020 by the Getty Research Institute and the USC School of Architecture, the exhibitions constitute the largest and most comprehensive museum presentations on this groundbreaking figure. Williams was the first Black architect licensed west of the Mississippi, the first known Black member of the American Institute of Architects, and its first Fellow who was Black. Spanning nearly six decades and more than 3,000 structures, his career shaped Los Angeles and extended internationally across residential, civic, commercial, and religious architecture. Together, the exhibitions highlight Williams’s architectural innovation, civic leadership, and enduring impact on the built environment.

This schedule will be updated with additional programs throughout the exhibition series.

Tuesday, September 24, 2026, 6pm
USC Fisher Museum of Art
College Night at Fisher
Explore the remarkable legacy and ongoing influence of one of America’s most influential architects with after-hours access to Paul R. Williams: An Architect Considered. Meet with college students from across Southern California while enjoying a live DJ set, hands on art making activities presented by USC NOMAS and Architecture + Advocacy, and complimentary food and refreshment.

September 28–20, 2026
UCLA Luskin Conference Center and online
Black Portraiture[s]: The Black Built Environment
Co-hosted by New York University, Getty, and UCLA, this convening brings together artists, researchers, and scholars to examine the Black built environment in Los Angeles through photography, architecture, urban planning, and visual culture. The program includes a session revisiting the architectural work and legacy of Paul R. Williams.

Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10am
USC Fisher Museum of Art
Free, RSVP required
Discover Paul R. Williams’ Designs through Drawing
Experience Paul R. Williams' architectural drawings through a hands-on drawing workshop led by architect, educator, and curator Valéry Augustin. Participants will examine Williams' drawing techniques, design process, and creative approach while gaining a deeper appreciation for his work and lasting legacy. No prior drawing experience is required. All materials will be provided.

Wednesday, November 18, 2026, 7pm
LACMA
Free, RSVP required
Paul R. Williams and the Idea of Home
Explore the enduring legacy of architect Paul R. Williams through a conversation with Karen E. Hudson, Darren Walker, and Brigette Romanek moderated by Sandra Jackson-Dumont. Together, they consider how Williams's vision continues to shape architecture, design, and ideas of home today.

Thursday, November 19, 2026, 6:30pm
USC Fisher Museum of Art
Free, RSVP required
The Missing Middle
Join exhibition curators Milton S.F. Curry and Valéry Augustin for a conversation exploring the role of housing in shaping the postwar Black middle class and the enduring legacy of architect Paul R. Williams. They will examine how contemporary artists and designers engage with Williams's work, influence, and vision for community-centered architecture. The discussion will feature commissioned artists and architects: EnFOLD Collective (Megan Echols and Dana McKinney White), Janna Ireland, Amanda Williams, and more.

Saturday, November 21, 2026, 10am–4pm
LACMA and sites across LA
$35 (LACMA Members: $30)
Paul Revere Was Here, co-presented with Los Angeles Conservancy
Step into the world of Paul R. Williams with a self-guided tour inviting you inside several of his remarkable Los Angeles buildings. Hear from SoCal NOMA voices at every site and explore the architect’s legacy in neighborhoods across LA, including in LACMA’s Paul R. Williams: Architect for Living exhibition.

Friday, December 18, 2026, 7pm
LACMA
Free, RSVP required
How Paul R. Williams Made Los Angeles
Join artist Janna Ireland and LACMA curators Staci Steinberger and Sarah Locke to explore Paul R. Williams’s profound impact on L.A. Ireland’s contemporary photographs document Williams's buildings, bringing his historical architectural legacy to life for modern audiences.

Saturday, January 30, 2027, 10am
USC Fisher Museum of Art
Paul R. Williams: Community Spaces Tour
Led by USC architecture students, a guided tour of three community spaces designed by Williams will offer insight into the architect’s creative process and feature sites that fostered access and dignity for the African American community. Tour stops: 28th Street YMCA, Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building, The First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles.