40 Years of Impact | Celebrating 40 Years of the Duncanson Program

Ancestral Serendipity: In Conversation with Ayana Ross

07 July 2026

Seeking to celebrate, preserve, and contextualize the stories and histories she loves, 2026 Duncanson Artist-in-Residence and visual artist Ayana Ross uses paintings as a means to do so with love and craft. In this interview with Jae Washington from Cincinnati's Conscience, Ross explores her personal and familial histories, the impact of her ancestors, the serendipity of the Duncanson Program finding her, and the ways these all align in her creative work.

See her work on view in Beyond the Picturesque: The American Landscape as a Site of Memory, Identity, and Continuity now through July 26, 2026.


Who was Ragnar Lodbrok?

08 July 2026

Henrik Møller, a skilled goldsmith, was one of the foremost proponents of the Norse-revival Dragon Style. His creations feature strange beasts, mythical figures, and intricate patterns, often accompanied by rune-like texts. Møller showed his work at major expositions and catered to a wealthy cosmopolitan clientele. One of his standout creations is this silver tureen that tells the tale of Ragnar Lodbrok, a legendary Viking king and hero. His exploits unfold across the surface, from his complicated courtship with his wife Áslaug to his dramatic death in a snake pit.

Researchers Search for Robert S. Duncanson’s Life Story

30 June 2026

Much biographical information known about Robert S. Duncanson is unknown. Researchers utilize historic newspaper clippings to fill in the gaps of knowledge and build a timeline of his existence in the 19th century as a Black American artist. Studying online newspaper databases, we can track his work history, public reception of his race, and the contextualization of his art with concurrent events like the American Civil War.

A man sits in a denim jacket with a microphone in hand waiting to speak.

Social Discourse: Tunde Wey and Anissa Lewis

13 May 2026

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.


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