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Kara Walker's 'After the Deluge' at the Metropolitan Museum

exhibition · 2026-04-23

Kara Walker's exhibition titled 'After the Deluge' was showcased at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York from March 21 to July 30, 2006. Drawing inspiration from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina and the ongoing neglect faced by New Orleans' marginalized communities, the exhibition is divided into three parts: Port of Call, Openwaters, and Inondation. Walker employs black paper silhouettes to craft narrative scenes that merge vintage aesthetics with themes of violence and sexual aggression directed at Black individuals. The display features her works alongside 19th-century art from the MET's collection, creating a dialogue between historical and modern art. Walker’s engagement with Auguste Edouart's silhouettes emphasizes the tension between movement and stillness, exploring the intricacies of African American history with a political lens.

Key facts

  • Exhibition 'After the Deluge' at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, from March 21 to July 30, 2006.
  • Inspired by Hurricane Katrina (2005) and the neglect of New Orleans' underprivileged populations.
  • Exhibition divided into three sections: Port of Call, Openwaters, and Inondation.
  • Kara Walker uses black paper silhouettes on white walls to create narrative scenes.
  • Subjects draw from 19th-century stereotypes of slaves and masters in the southern US.
  • Walker's works are mixed with 19th-century pieces from the MET collection, including works by Auguste Edouart.
  • Walker's gouaches from 'American Primitives' (2001) are confronted with Edouart's silhouettes.
  • The installation blurs the distinction between contemporary and historical works.

Entities

Artists

  • Kara Walker
  • Auguste Edouart

Institutions

  • Metropolitan Museum of Art

Locations

  • New York
  • United States
  • Louisiana
  • New Orleans

Sources