Revue Noire

Revue Noire, founded in Paris in 1991, was a quarterly bilingual (French & English) magazine dedicated to African contemporary art and culture. The publication ceased its print edition in 2001 after 34 issues, transitioning into books, exhibitions, documentary production, and digital content.

Mission & Scope:

- Aimed to prove that “there is art in Africa”, featuring a rich array of media such as sculpture, painting, photography, music, dance, literature, architecture, and film

- Issues covered geographic and thematic special editions—ranging from specific cities and countries to topics like African photography, AIDS, gastronomy, and fashion.

- Presented with glossy, fashion-forward design and thoughtfully integrated visuals and essays to challenge stereotypes and contextualize African narratives.

Revue Noire revolutionized how contemporary African art was presented—combining top-tier design, bilingual content, and thoughtful curation to combat colonial stereotypes and showcase vibrant aesthetic narratives across the continent and its diaspora. Its legacy lives on through books, exhibitions, and ongoing online output, making it an enduring reference for art historians and cultural enthusiasts alike.