The Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati is observing two milestones in 2026: the 175th anniversary of Robert S. Duncanson’s landscape murals, created between 1850 and 1852, and the 40th anniversary of the Duncanson Artist-in-Residence Program. Duncanson is widely recognized as the first Black American artist to achieve international acclaim, and his murals remain a defining feature of the museum’s historic house.

The residency program, founded in 1986 with poet Nikki Giovanni as its inaugural resident, supports contemporary artists across multiple disciplines through public programming, workshops, and community educational outreach. This year’s resident is mixed-media artist Ayana Ross, selected from more than 70 applicants representing 17 states, 31 cities, and 11 countries. Her residency runs April 11–26.

Ross’s exhibition, “Beyond the Picturesque: The American Landscape as a Site of Memory, Identity and Continuity,” will be on view through July 26. Seven paintings will be displayed in the historic house, with six in the Sinton Gallery and one in the Duncanson Foyer alongside the original murals. Throughout 2026, the museum will also present a digital retrospective featuring past residents including jazz singer Kathy Wade, filmmaker Ya’Ke Smith, and cellist Anita Graef.

Source: Living Magazines