In April 2025, the Taft Museum of Art welcomed hip-hop artist Rich Robbins to Cincinnati for a two-week residency. This annual residency, which is part of the museum's year-round Duncanson Program initiative, celebrates the achievements of contemporary artists working in a variety of disciplines. The program also 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 about 1850-52, now the Taft Museum of Art.
During Robbins' time in the Queen City, he immersed himself in the city's arts and culture scene and made an impact through various programs, performances, collaborations, and celebrations. Here's a quick photo highlight of his time with the Taft:
To close his two-week residency, Robbins led a closing celebration at Artsville which included a recorded iteration of his conversation series Soft & Tender, a multidimensional exploration of Black fatherhood through the lens of the sons they raised. Joining him were panelists Damian Hoskins, Executive Director of Elementz; Davia J. Crutchfield, PhD, Creator and Co-Founder of BL&CK; and Kareem Simpson, Duncanson Program Manager.
The museum is grateful to Rich Robbins for joining the legacy of the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence, and look forward to 2026 celebrating the 40th anniversary of this prestigious program.
Most plant dyes produce warm earth tones that fade away relatively quickly, but indigo’s distinctive, cool hues are colorfast; they may lighten over time, but always remain blue. Explore the history of indigo and how its dyes have been used from the past to the present.
In fall 2023, the Taft Museum of Art received an unexpected email from a direct descendant of Nicholas Longworth—resident of the Taft historic house for over three decades beginning in 1830—resulting in a gift of three new portraits to the Taft collection. Learn more about the acquisition, history, and conservation of these portraits from the museum's Curatorial & Collections team.
The Taft's 2025 Fundraising Gala is a party that makes a difference. The tropical, 1960s-themed event grossed over $320,000 for another record-breaking year, raising funds to help support Taft’s many free educational programs such as Art for All, Artists Reaching Classrooms, and Family Fundays.