Celebrated as the first Black architect to practice in the western U.S., Paul R. Williams was a significant, yet understudied figure. With his keen eye for detail, innovative design work, and staggeringly prolific output, the groundbreaking architecture he realized left a significant impact both nationally and internationally—especially visible across the development of Modernist Palm Springs.

This talk convenes Getty curators who will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming exhibition series, I Am an Architect: Paul R. Williams, slated to launch in late 2026 at Getty, LACMA, and USC. Marking the public debut of his archive, curators will share archival highlights to provide new perspectives on this groundbreaking figure, with insights into his life, his design signatures, and his widespread impact, both in Palm Springs and globally, examined anew. This preview commences a yearlong celebration of this pivotal architect and his legacy.

Presented by Getty Research Institute (GRI), Curatorial Department / LeRonn Brooks, Maristella Casciato, Gary Riichirō Fox and Alex Jones.