Continuing the Legacy of Artist Robert S. Duncanson

The Duncanson Artist-in-Residence Program was established in 1986 to honor the achievements of contemporary Black artists working in a breadth of artistic disciplines. The program honors the relationship between painter Robert S. Duncanson and his patron, Nicholas Longworth, who commissioned Duncanson to paint landscape murals in the foyer of his home, now the Taft Museum of Art. Each year, the selected artist works directly with the public and with area schools.

2021 Artist-in-Residence

Meet Asha Ama Bias-Daniels 

Asha Ama Bias-Daniels has been selected as the Taft's 34th annual Duncanson Artist-in-Residence, which will now take place each Spring. 

After graduating as a FISC (Fund for Independent Schools, Cincinnati) Scholar from St. Ursula Academy, she went on to study as a Cincinnatus Scholar at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in fashion design. Daniels was the first Cincinnati designer selected to compete in a show in the Project Runway franchise and was a finalist on Project Runway: Under the Gunn. She was also invited back to compete on the hit show Project Runway All Stars. As a couture designer, Daniels has created pieces for a diverse range of artists, from Zendaya to Little Big Town.As a Black woman, Daniels has often found herself misunderstood, stereotyped, and misidentified. She was able to navigate the fashion world and survive because she was raised with a great knowledge of self that she tries to impart to others through her designs. It is her core belief that she must pull others up while finding her way. Daniels has a heart for mentoring and education.

She founded the mentorship program Created to Create, in which she teaches fashion design to Black underprivileged teenage girls in Cincinnati. As a designer, Daniels has experience in men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, as well as lingerie, swimwear, embroidery, draping, knitting, and tailoring. Her work possesses a duality: soft, rhythmic draping against pieces with an armored feel—protection for Black women. She incorporates ornate detailing, print mixing, strong lines, and cut-outs that accentuate curves in the female form. Daniels is currently exploring a new collection with an emphasis on the meaning of the year 2020, focusing on the revealing truths of this year and the topic of Black identity.

Public Events

For two weeks in April 2021, Daniels will lead public programs, teach workshops, and visit schools across Greater Cincinnati. Stay tuned for more information.