Los Angeles will celebrate one of its most influential architects this winter, as the Getty Center presents “Paul R. Williams: Architecture Across the Color Line,” on view December 15, 2026 through March 14, 2027.
Williams (1894–1980) was the first Black architect licensed in the western United States, and his prolific career reshaped the city: from luxury homes for Frank Sinatra and Lucy and Desi Arnaz to civic monuments and affordable housing for Black families. Orphaned at age four, he rose to become one of the nation’s most accomplished architects, designing across racial and social boundaries at a time when segregation limited opportunity.
The exhibition focuses on Williams’s work for the Black community and life in 20th-century Black Los Angeles, told through drawings, photographs, and archival materials — including his ink rendering of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles, held by the Getty Research Institute. The show traces his journey from student to celebrated designer, and the preservation of his archive and enduring legacy.
The Getty presentation is one of three exhibitions across Los Angeles celebrating Williams this season. Happy bonus: admission to the Getty Center is free, making this a perfect winter cultural outing for the whole family.
Photo: The Getty
