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

On Impactful Artistry | In Conversation with Ya'Ke Smith

07 July 2026

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, the impact and importance of artist support in our communities, and how these can allow artists to "bring somebody behind you who's doing the work and shares the mission."


Housecats | How Felines Influenced Edie McKee Harper’s Creative Work

13 October 2026

Butch. Cookie. Bitsy. Katrinka. These are just a few of the cats who pounced around the household of Edie McKee Harper, Charley Harper, and their son Brett Harper. You can find their essence embedded in the work of these artists, but these whiskered faces specifically take the spotlight across the work of Edie McKee Harper. Explore how cats impacted her artistry and creative process with Senior Manager of Marketing and Engagement Kay E. Bancroft, with research by Assistant Curator Angela Fuller.

Modeling Museum Practice | A Commitment to Black Artistry and Robert S. Duncanson's Legacy

01 October 2026

Some anniversaries simply invite us to celebrate. Others encourage us to ask why a legacy has endured. As the Taft Museum of Art commemorates the 175th anniversary of Robert S. Duncanson's landmark murals alongside the 40th anniversary of the Duncanson Program, we have a rare opportunity to reflect on how one artist's legacy has evolved from a remarkable chapter in history into a model for museums committed to creativity, community, and cultural equity.

A Journey to Conservation | In Conversation with Frederick A. Wallace, 1995 Duncanson Artist-in-Residence

26 August 2026

In 1995, Frederick A. Wallace, conservator, was named the 9th Duncanson Artist-in-Residence at the Taft Museum of Art. But what was his journey to the world of art like, and how did he become a conservator? In this interview, Jae Washington of Cincinnati's Conscience sits down with Wallace to discuss how conservation impacted his career and creative process, and some of his favorite things in Cincinnati.


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