Beyond the Picturesque
The American Landscape as a Site of Memory, Identity, and Continuity
April 11–July 26, 2026 | Sinton Gallery and Duncanson Foyer
The Taft Museum of Art proudly welcomes Ayana Ross as the 40th Duncanson Artist-in-Residence with a presentation of seven figural paintings. Known for her emotionally resonant portraiture and narrative storytelling, Ross captures the quiet strength and complexity of Black life, reflecting everyday moments that carry deeper meaning. Often drawing on her own experiences, her work explores intergenerational themes, current events, and cultural conversations shaping our world. Through ornamentation, Ross anchors her work in memory, preservation, and continuity. In this collection of paintings, she employs picturesque landscapes as a decorative motif, offering echoes of American ideals, elevating the subjects within her paintings, and inviting viewers to reflect on the world we have inherited and the one we continue to shape.
Header Image | Ayana Ross (American, b. 1977), Seed For The Sower, 2024. Photo by Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn.
Plan Your Visit
Expand your visit beyond the galleries to discover the museum’s wide array of events and programs, retreat in the beautiful downtown garden, find a Cincinnati keepsake in the Museum Shop, or expand your culinary palate in the Taft Café.
Duncanson Program Sponsors
Duncanson Program was Financially Assisted by
Corporate Media Sponsor
Paloozanoire
Duncanson Artist-in-Residence Accommodations
Generously provided by Morgan and Eddie Rigaud
Exhibition Support Generously Provided by
Bill and Carol Eckerle Endowment
Ellen and George Rieveschl Endowment
Warrington Exhibition Endowment
Chellgren Family Endowment
Sallie Robinson Wadsworth Endowment for Exhibitions