Established in 1986 by the Taft Museum of Art and the Robert S. Duncanson Society, the award-winning Duncanson Program affirms an ongoing Black presence within the structure of the Taft Museum of Art. Year-round, the Duncanson Program honors the achievements of contemporary artists working in a variety of disciplines and celebrates Robert S. Duncanson’s artistic contributions including his suite of landscapes and still-lifes (created about 1850-52) painted directly on the foyer walls of what is now the Taft Museum of Art.
Discover how you can celebrate the program's 40th anniversary with the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence, upcoming events, NEW! "40 Years of Impact" Stories, Arts Entrepreneur Events, and Fall Pop-Up Events.
Over the years, many nationally and internationally acclaimed artists spanning an array of disciplines have been selected for the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence. This includes visual and performance artist Vanessa German, choreographer Stafford Berry, and the esteemed poet Nikki Giovanni (the inaugural Duncanson Artist-in-Residence in 1986).
Explore the legacy of artists-in-residence over the past 40 years of the Duncanson Program here.
Select Sundays | 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Join former Duncanson Artists-in-Residence for an afternoon of jazz music in the garden in celebration of 40 years of the Duncanson Program.
This is a free event! Registration is not required; seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Admission to the collection and exhibition galleries is FREE and included with attendance to this event.
Music programming supported by the Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation in loving memory of Holly Ann Herschede.
Ayana Ross, visual artist
The Taft Museum of Art selected visual artist Ayana Ross as the 2026 Duncanson Artist-in-Residence. The award-winning residency is known for its competitive application and review process, with the 40th anniversary signifying exceptional significance to the program’s long-standing mission of elevating the profile of contemporary artists across a variety of disciplines. Ross’ residency included an exhibition of her work as well as engagement with the community, leading public programs, teaching workshops, and visiting schools across Greater Cincinnati.
Working closely with community collaborators and industry experts, entrepreneurial programs are designed to assist creatives of varied disciplines to cultivate their business skills and help them to thrive in the marketplace.
August 21 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Join a lively dialogue centered around the exchange of ideas and how to make a non-traditional living as a Black artist. Moderated by Kareem Simpson, Duncanson Program Manager at the Taft Museum of Art, listen to three local Black entrepreneurs: Desirae Hosley, Executive Director at WordPlay; Darnell Pierre-Benjamin, Movement Specialist and Professor at Northern Kentucky University; and Alandes Powell, Founder of Black Art Speaks. Enjoy complimentary light bites as they engage in lively, honest conversations.
This is a FREE event! Registration required. Includes admission to collection and exhibition galleries.
Questions? Contact education@taftmuseum.org.
Across the city, the Taft is helping to grow the collection of art experiences, serving as an educational resource for artists, and expanding public engagement with artists’ varied histories, interests, and practices.
August 15 | 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Join the Taft for an inspiring conversation featuring two former Duncanson Artist-in-Residence who are dynamic voices in the arts: Anita Graef (2023) and Rich Robbins (2025). This engaging dialogue, facilitated by Duncanson Program manager, Kareem A. Simpson, will explore the intersections of music, storytelling, and community impact. Through personal reflections and shared experiences, Graef and Robbins will discuss their artistic journeys, the legacy of the program, and the power of creative expression to foster cultural understanding and social change.
This is a FREE event! Registration required. Includes admission to collection and exhibition galleries.
Questions? Contact education@taftmuseum.org.
For 40 years, the residency has amplified the artists transforming culture from the inside out. This hub shares their stories—and how investing in artists of color drives change across museums and communities.
How can someone be an impactful artist? Ya'Ke Smith, filmmaker and 2019 Duncanson Artist-in-Residence says "good artists are sensitive artists, sensitive to the world around you."
In this conversation between Smith and Duncanson Program Manager, Kareem A. Simpson, they explore the ways in which Smith listens to and watches world and stories around him.
Celebrating 40 years of the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence Program, this conversation features reflections from Tunde Wey on his residency—where food becomes a powerful lens for social discourse—and Annissa Lewis's collaboration on one of his public events. Together, they explore how art, community, and conversation intersect.
Celebrating 40 years of the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence Program, this conversation features reflections from Tunde Wey on his residency—where food becomes a powerful lens for social discourse—and Annissa Lewis's collaboration on one of his public events. Together, they explore how art, community, and conversation intersect.
In January 2026, two Cincinnati-based musicians with a passion for art and shared history as Duncanson Artists-in-Residence came together in a spirited dialogue in celebration of the program’s 40th anniversary. Learn more from Kathy Wade (1988) and singer-songwriter Tracy Walker (2011) and experience how two artists, decades apart, found meaning in their experiences as Duncanson Artists-in-Residence in excerpts from their conversation.
Anyone who has had the opportunity to encounter one of the many Duncanson Artists-in-Residence over the years has been fortunate to witness firsthand the creativity, courage, and cultural depth that define each year’s artist-in-residence. In 2021, that artist was Asha Ama Bias-Daniels—learn more about her work, her residency at the Taft, and her impact in the community and beyond as we celebrate 40 years of the Duncanson Program.
In October 2025, during Cincinnati’s historic America’s River Roots Festival, spoken-word performances by Annie Ruth and Ajanaé Dawkins kicked off the 40th anniversary year of the Taft Museum of Art's Duncanson Program, which has now been expanded to year-round events and activities. Learn more about these artists and watch excerpts from their performances!
In 2026, the transformative Duncanson Program celebrates its 40th anniversary as a platform for artists and a thriving space for dialogue, creativity, and community engagement! Learn more about the legacy and impact of this vital program in the Cincinnati community and beyond.
In April 2025, the Taft Museum of Art welcomed hip-hop artist Rich Robbins to Cincinnati for a two-week residency. During his time here, he immersed himself in the city's arts and culture scene and made an impact through various programs, performances, collaborations, and celebrations.
Painted by Duncanson between 1850 and 1852 as a commission for Nicholas Longworth, then the home's owner, the spectacular murals don't reveal what was happening in Cincinnati during the turbulent time of their creation. They also don't tell us much personally about Duncanson: a man whose grandfather was born enslaved in Virginia, a man who mostly taught himself how to paint, and who became the first internationally recognized Black artist.
Generously provided by Morgan and Eddie Rigaud
