Duncanson Artist-in-Residence

Celebrating 175 Years of Duncanson

Established in 1986 by the Taft Museum of Art and the Robert S. Duncanson Society, the award-winning Duncanson Program honors the achievements of contemporary Black artists working in a variety of disciplines—year-round. The program honors the relationship between Black American painter Robert S. Duncanson and his patron, Nicholas Longworth, who commissioned Duncanson to paint landscape murals in the foyer of his home circa 1850-52, now the Taft Museum of Art.

Robert S. Duncanson’s art was appreciated in his day, but today, his reputation is expanding rapidly and returning to the forefront as an important contributor to the American art history canon. Discover how you can celebrate the murals’ upcoming 175th anniversary:

Artist-in-Residence

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).

Stay tuned for the 2025 call for artists!

Pop-Up Event Series

Across the city, the Taft is helping to grow the collection of Black art experiences, serving as an educational resource for Black art, and expanding public engagement with Black artists’ diverse histories, interests, and practices. 

Additional details to be announced.

Empowering Art Entrepreneurs

Working closely with community collaborators and industry experts, entrepreneurial programs are designed to assist Black creatives of diverse disciplines to cultivate their business skills and help them to thrive in the marketplace.

Black Art Business Luncheon

Saturday, August 24

11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Join us for a less-traditional approach to sparking dialogue and fostering the exchange of ideas about how to make a non-traditional living as a Black artist. Enjoy complimentary light bites and listen to four local Black entrepreneurs Annie Ruth, Cedric Michal Cox, Anissa Lewis, and Kareem Simpson as they relay short, unscripted, unmoderated two-person conversations about how they make a living in the world of art.

GET FREE TICKETS

This is a FREE event! Registration is required. Admission to the museum is sold separately.

Questions? Contact education@taftmuseum.org.

The Duncanson Society

The Robert S. Duncanson Society was founded in 1986 by the late Doris Rankin Sells, the late William Joel McCray, and Ruth K. Meyer to affirm an ongoing Black presence within the structure of the Taft Museum of Art—including the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence program—and to celebrate Duncanson’s artistic contributions.

Interested in joining? Email education@taftmuseum.org to learn more.