Johny Pitts' 'Black Bricolage' at La Mep Studio: A Two-Decade Portrait of Black European Life

Johny Pitts, a British artist, writer, and photographer, showcases 'Black Bricolage' at La Mep Studio in Paris from 4 April to 24 May 2026. This exhibition features two decades of photographs, notebooks, and experiences, highlighting a visual narrative influenced by working-class creativity, DIY culture, and the shared histories of the African diaspora. Known for coining the term 'Afropean', Pitts examines the 'banality of Blackness', emphasizing ordinary moments over sensational occurrences. In an ART AFRICA interview, he elaborates on bricolage as both a creative and political approach, reflecting on his travels from Sheffield and Stockholm to Lisbon, Freetown, and Salvador da Bahia. He recounts a significant meeting in Rinkeby, Stockholm, with an ANC fighter claiming to be Nelson Mandela's brother. The exhibition features installation images credited to Quentin Chevri. Last year, Pitts received the EM Forster Award from the American Academy and references his mentor Caryl Phillips, likening his relationship with Europe to a 'lover's quarrel'.