Psalms, Sermons & Rituals (1981)
This 1981 solo exhibition at Brockman Gallery showcased Pajaud’s deeply spiritual watercolors, inspired by biblical psalms, Black church sermons, and ceremonial rituals—offering a lyrical exploration of faith, symbolism, and cultural memory.
Title: Psalms, Sermons & Rituals: William Pajaud
Venue: Brockman Gallery, Los Angeles, California
Dates: 1981 (specific dates not widely documented)
Type: Solo exhibition that blended Pajaud’s devotional watercolors with thematic reflections on faith, ritual, and heritage
Exhibition Description
In this intimate 1981 solo exhibition, William Pajaud channels his New Orleans roots and deep spiritual heritage through a stunning series of watercolor paintings. Raised in a vibrant city shaped by jazz, gospel, and active Black church traditions, Pajaud draws on these cultural rhythms to infuse each work with the musical cadences of sermon and song. His signature watercolors—which notably capture jazz funeral processions and communal worship—are reimagined here as meditative visual sermons, layered with biblical symbolism, hymn-like repetition, and ritual significance. Through fluid brushwork and vivid color, Pajaud invites viewers into a contemplative space where sacred texts, collective memory, and personal faith converge. The result is a celebration of resilience, community, and the transcendent power of Black spiritual life—an evocative homage to ritual as both artistic subject and lived experience.
Gallery
