Weekly Artist Feature | William Pajaud
William Pajaud (Aug 3, 1925 – Jun 16, 2015) was a New Orleans-born American painter and curator whose work chronicled Black life with expressive watercolor compositions rooted in memory, faith, and community. Deeply shaped by his Southern upbringing and experiences of racial injustice, Pajaud depicted subjects such as jazz funerals, spiritual rituals, and everyday Black life with lyrical intimacy and cultural pride.
Click here to learn more about the artist →
A graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana and the first Black student to receive a degree from the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles, Pajaud was also a pioneering arts administrator. He served as art director at Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company, where he led the creation of one of the most significant corporate collections of African American art in the U.S., acquiring works by artists such as Elizabeth Catlett, Charles White, and Betye Saar.
Pajaud’s dual legacy as both artist and curator helped elevate generations of Black artists. His work has been exhibited nationally and is held in the collections of institutions such as the California African American Museum, Amistad Research Center, and Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Highlights:
- Earned his B.F.A. from Xavier University of Louisiana and became the first Black graduate of the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles in 1952, where he studied under Disney illustrator Tyrus Wong
- Received numerous honors throughout his life, including the Paul Robeson Award (1978), PR News Gold Key (1981), League of Allied Arts Artist Award (1981), and the Samella Lewis Award for his lifelong contributions to Black art and cultural stewardship (2004).
- Served as Art Director at Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company from 1957 to 1987,
- His work is included in the permanent collections of institutions such as the Smithsonian American Art Museum, California African American Museum, Amistad Research Center, and the Pushkin Museum in Russia.
Past Exhibitions
His legacy continues through several notable past shows, to view his work:
- The Life and Art of William Pajaud (2003) at M. Hanks Gallery, Santa Monica – presented a retrospective look at his multifaceted career as an artist and curator.
- The Sights and Sounds of My New Orleans (2000) at California African American Museum, Los Angeles – captured the energy of Pajaud’s hometown with vivid depictions of jazz funerals, parades, and street life.
- Psalms, Sermons & Rituals (1981) at Brockman Gallery, Los Angeles – showcased Pajaud’s exploration of spirituality and African American cultural rituals through expressive watercolor paintings.
Other Past Exhibitions:
- The Notion of Family – California African American Museum, Los Angeles (Sep 26, 2018 – Mar 2, 2019)
- “Reflections on the Self” – California African American Museum, Los Angeles (May 11 – Sep 18, 2016)
- “Now Dig This!: Art and Black Los Angeles 1960–1980” – Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA (2011–2012)
- “The Life and Art of William Pajaud” – M. Hanks Gallery, Santa Monica, CA (2003)
Artworks
Stay connected with Miami MoCAAD. Get updates on events, exhibits, and stories that celebrate the African Diaspora.
📩 Subscribe to our newsletter:
link.miamimocaad.org/MiamiMoCAADSubscribe
