Art & Design : NPR https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1047 NPR explores the visual arts including design, photography, sculpture, and architecture. Interviews, commentary, and audio. Subscribe to the RSS feed. en Copyright 2023 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:04:05 -0500 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 Art & Design https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1047 Encore: The lasting legacy of Bob Ross This week marks the 40th anniversary of <em>The Joy of Painting. </em>We revisit a story about a wildly popular Bob Ross solo exhibition in Virginia. The late PBS painter's popularity continues to soar. Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:04:05 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149135815/encore-the-lasting-legacy-of-bob-ross https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149135815/encore-the-lasting-legacy-of-bob-ross This week marks the 40th anniversary of The Joy of Painting. We revisit a story about a wildly popular Bob Ross solo exhibition in Virginia. The late PBS painter's popularity continues to soar.

]]> Kat Lonsdorf Revisiting Larry Sultan's 'Pictures from Home,' a photo memoir of post-WWII life The new Broadway show, <em>Pictures from Home, </em>draws on the late photographer's memoir about his childhood in the baby boom generation in Southern California. <em>Originally broadcast in 1989. </em> Fri, 13 Jan 2023 13:50:40 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149015284/revisiting-larry-sultans-pictures-from-home-a-photo-memoir-of-post-wwii-life https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149015284/revisiting-larry-sultans-pictures-from-home-a-photo-memoir-of-post-wwii-life The new Broadway show, Pictures from Home, draws on the late photographer's memoir about his childhood in the baby boom generation in Southern California. Originally broadcast in 1989.

]]> Terry Gross When people are less important than beaches: Puerto Rican artists at the Whitney The first major exhibit of Puerto Rican art on the mainland in 50 years wrestles with the question: Who is Puerto Rico for? Sat, 07 Jan 2023 17:58:12 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/07/1144572043/puerto-rico-hurricane https://www.npr.org/2023/01/07/1144572043/puerto-rico-hurricane

The first major exhibit of Puerto Rican art on the mainland in 50 years wrestles with the question: Who is Puerto Rico for?

(Image credit: Whitney Museum of American Art)

]]> Jennifer Vanasco A new exhibit in Chicago features artwork by children in Ukraine NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Yustyna Pavliuk and Adrienne Kochman about "Children of War," an exhibit at Chicago's Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art that features artwork by children in Ukraine. Sat, 07 Jan 2023 07:58:56 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/07/1147678850/a-new-exhibit-in-chicago-features-artwork-by-children-in-ukraine https://www.npr.org/2023/01/07/1147678850/a-new-exhibit-in-chicago-features-artwork-by-children-in-ukraine NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Yustyna Pavliuk and Adrienne Kochman about "Children of War," an exhibit at Chicago's Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art that features artwork by children in Ukraine.

]]> Scott Simon Photographing the levity and macabre of living through the war in Ukraine NPR's Elissa Nadworny talks with photographer Carol Guzy, about her most recent photo essay, which documents a young couple living with the effects of the Ukraine war. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 17:04:09 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1146528804/photographing-the-levity-and-macabre-of-living-through-the-war-in-ukraine https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1146528804/photographing-the-levity-and-macabre-of-living-through-the-war-in-ukraine NPR's Elissa Nadworny talks with photographer Carol Guzy, about her most recent photo essay, which documents a young couple living with the effects of the Ukraine war.

]]> This artist stayed figurative when art went abstract — he's finally recognized, at 99 Figurative painter Jonah Kinigstein was shut out of the art world when abstract expressionism came to prominence. Now he's finally getting some recognition. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 06:55:37 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1143842928/jonah-kinigstein-artist-figurative https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1143842928/jonah-kinigstein-artist-figurative

Figurative painter Jonah Kinigstein was shut out of the art world when abstract expressionism came to prominence. Now he's finally getting some recognition.

(Image credit: Matthew Schuerman/NPR)

]]> Matthew Schuerman Immerse yourself in this colossal desert 'City' — but leave the selfie stick at home Michael Heizer began work on his massive installation in the Nevada desert more than 50 years ago. One of the largest artworks in the world, it cost $40 million (so far) and is now open to the public. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 06:55:37 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1141952369/michael-heizer-city-nevada-desert-art-installation https://www.npr.org/2023/01/01/1141952369/michael-heizer-city-nevada-desert-art-installation

Michael Heizer began work on his massive installation in the Nevada desert more than 50 years ago. One of the largest artworks in the world, it cost $40 million (so far) and is now open to the public.

(Image credit: Ben Blackwell/Triple Aught Foundation)

]]> Chloe Veltman Pritzker-winning architect Arata Isozaki dies at 91 The Japanese architect was known as a post-modern giant who blended culture and history of the East and the West in his designs. He won the Pritzker Prize, the highest honor in the field, in 2019. Fri, 30 Dec 2022 10:57:11 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/30/1146240501/pritzker-prize-winning-architect-arata-isozaki-dies https://www.npr.org/2022/12/30/1146240501/pritzker-prize-winning-architect-arata-isozaki-dies

The Japanese architect was known as a post-modern giant who blended culture and history of the East and the West in his designs. He won the Pritzker Prize, the highest honor in the field, in 2019.

(Image credit: Francois Mori/AP)

]]> The Associated Press 'Visualizing the Virgin' shows Mary in the Middle Ages An exhibition of illuminated manuscripts at the J. Paul Getty Museum explores how Jesus' mother was portrayed before Renaissance artists painted her with golden curls, perfect skin and blue eyes. Fri, 30 Dec 2022 05:08:10 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/30/1145559044/visualizing-the-virgin-shows-mary-in-the-middle-ages https://www.npr.org/2022/12/30/1145559044/visualizing-the-virgin-shows-mary-in-the-middle-ages

An exhibition of illuminated manuscripts at the J. Paul Getty Museum explores how Jesus' mother was portrayed before Renaissance artists painted her with golden curls, perfect skin and blue eyes.

(Image credit: Getty Museum)

]]> Susan Stamberg Her work as a pioneering animator was lost to history — until now Bessie Mae Kelley is one of the earliest known women to hand-draw and direct animated films. This is the story of how her story was brought back to life nearly a century later. Sat, 24 Dec 2022 07:00:39 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/24/1145092476/bessie-mae-kelley-first-woman-animator https://www.npr.org/2022/12/24/1145092476/bessie-mae-kelley-first-woman-animator

Bessie Mae Kelley is one of the earliest known women to hand-draw and direct animated films. This is the story of how her story was brought back to life nearly a century later.

(Image credit: Manitou Productions)

]]> Jonaki Mehta Germany returns looted artifacts to Nigeria to rectify a 'dark colonial history' This week's handover is Germany's first step in fulfilling its agreement with Nigeria to release all 1,130 Benin Bronzes from German museums. Wed, 21 Dec 2022 12:56:33 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/21/1144666811/germany-nigeria-returns-benin-bronzes-looted https://www.npr.org/2022/12/21/1144666811/germany-nigeria-returns-benin-bronzes-looted

This week's handover is Germany's first step in fulfilling its agreement with Nigeria to release all 1,130 Benin Bronzes from German museums.

(Image credit: Olamikan Gbemiga/AP)

]]> Ashley Ahn A Tunisian artist is hoping to keep the memories of migrants alive Artist Mohsen Lihidheb collects objects that wash ashore in Zarzis, Tunisia. His collection is a tribute to the migrants who died trying to cross the Mediterranean. Wed, 21 Dec 2022 05:44:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/21/1142797756/a-tunisian-artist-is-hoping-to-keep-the-memories-of-migrants-alive https://www.npr.org/2022/12/21/1142797756/a-tunisian-artist-is-hoping-to-keep-the-memories-of-migrants-alive

Artist Mohsen Lihidheb collects objects that wash ashore in Zarzis, Tunisia. His collection is a tribute to the migrants who died trying to cross the Mediterranean.

(Image credit: Claire Harbage/NPR)

]]> Taylor Haney Bessie Mae Kelley is one of the earliest known women to hand-draw animated films NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with author and historian Mindy Johnson about her discovery that Bessie Mae Kelley was one of the earliest known women to hand-draw and direct animated films. Mon, 19 Dec 2022 16:42:38 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/19/1144237423/bessie-mae-kelley-is-one-of-the-earliest-known-women-to-hand-draw-animated-films https://www.npr.org/2022/12/19/1144237423/bessie-mae-kelley-is-one-of-the-earliest-known-women-to-hand-draw-animated-films NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with author and historian Mindy Johnson about her discovery that Bessie Mae Kelley was one of the earliest known women to hand-draw and direct animated films.

]]> Jonaki Mehta Terrible at buying Christmas presents? Peep our guide for clever gift ideas Not everyone has a knack for gift giving — and that's OK! Our experts share tips on what to get for 5 personality types, ranging from the practical to the sentimental to the hard to shop for. Wed, 14 Dec 2022 12:34:32 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2022/12/14/1142750086/christmas-gift-giving-guide https://www.npr.org/2022/12/14/1142750086/christmas-gift-giving-guide

Not everyone has a knack for gift giving — and that's OK! Our experts share tips on what to get for 5 personality types, ranging from the practical to the sentimental to the hard to shop for.

(Image credit: Malaka Gharib/ NPR)

]]> Meghan Keane We're not lion: The 2022 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are a good laugh Jennifer Hadley claimed the top prize for her photo of a 3-month-old lion cub tumbling out of a tree in the Serengeti region of Tanzania. Sat, 10 Dec 2022 05:00:38 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2022/12/10/1141604273/comedy-wildlife-photography-awards-funny-animals-photos https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2022/12/10/1141604273/comedy-wildlife-photography-awards-funny-animals-photos

Jennifer Hadley claimed the top prize for her photo of a 3-month-old lion cub tumbling out of a tree in the Serengeti region of Tanzania.

(Image credit: Jennifer Hadley/Comedy Wildlife 2022)

]]> Ashley Ahn