The Taft Museum of Art has named Cincinnati-based painter Ayana Ross as the 2026 Robert S. Duncanson Artist-in-Residence, marking the 40th anniversary of the prestigious program. Ross, known for her figurative realism and traditional oil painting techniques, will be featured in a solo exhibition titled "Beyond the Picturesque: The American Landscape as a Site of Memory, Identity and Continuity." The showcase includes seven paintings integrated into the Taft’s historic house and Sinton Gallery, with a specific installation placed alongside the museum's famous 19th-century murals by Robert S. Duncanson.
This residency is a significant milestone for the Taft Museum, as it continues its four-decade mission of honoring the legacy of Robert S. Duncanson by elevating contemporary artists of color. By placing Ross’s explorations of Black life and intergenerational themes in direct dialogue with Duncanson’s monumental landscape murals, the museum bridges the gap between 19th-century art history and modern cultural conversations. The selection of Ross also reinforces the program's commitment to regional talent, following in the footsteps of inaugural resident Nikki Giovanni.