Ladji Diaby's "Godspeed You Black Emperor" Opens at Galerie Crèvecoeur in Paris
From September 11 to November 28, 2026, Galerie Crèvecoeur in Paris will showcase "Godspeed You Black Emperor," a solo exhibition featuring the work of Ladji Diaby. Born in 2000 in Ivry-sur-Seine, Diaby completed his studies at Beaux-Arts de Paris in 2025. His artistic practice focuses on scavenging and creating assemblages from found materials, a method inspired by his desire to keep costs low. The exhibition includes a variety of pieces, such as a library step, trinkets, and costume jewelry. Diaby views each collected item as part of a "value system." Influenced by films like A Clockwork Orange (1971) and Un Chien Andalou (1929), his previous solo exhibition took place at Kunstverein Nürnberg. His art delves into themes of capitalism, labor, and personal narrative, intentionally omitting explanatory labels.
Key facts
- Ladji Diaby's solo exhibition "Godspeed You Black Emperor" runs from September 11 to November 28, 2026, at Galerie Crèvecoeur, 9 Rue des Cascades, 75020 Paris.
- Diaby was born in 2000 in Ivry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne, where he continues to live and work.
- He graduated from the Beaux-Arts de Paris in 2025 after five years in Guillaume Paris's studio.
- His practice involves scavenging found objects and assembling them, a constraint he adopted to minimize production costs.
- The exhibition title references a 1976 Japanese documentary about a biker gang and the Quebec rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor, active since 1994.
- Diaby has had previous solo exhibitions at Kunstverein Nürnberg (Germany) and Lafayette Anticipations.
- He cites Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange (1971) and Luis Buñuel's Un Chien Andalou (1929) as formative influences.
- His works incorporate personal and family narratives, such as a champagne bucket with lemons and cloves, and a Buddhist altar featuring a photo of Gucci Mane.
Entities
Artists
- Ladji Diaby
- Guillaume Paris
- Stanley Kubrick
- Luis Buñuel
- Piero della Francesca
- Gucci Mane
Institutions
- Galerie Crèvecoeur
- Beaux-Arts de Paris
- Kunstverein Nürnberg
- Lafayette Anticipations
- Emmaüs
- Parti communiste
- Beaux Arts Magazine
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Locations
- Ivry-sur-Seine
- France
- Val-de-Marne
- Paris
- Saint-Denis
- Nürnberg
- Germany