Circa: The NCMA Blog

The artist, whose mural in Durham honors Diego Rivera, talks about his family, his heritage, and artistic influences.

Curator Jen Dasal introduces the exhibition, setting these colorful works in the context of the Mexican Revolution of the early 20th century.

Curator John Coffey visits the Olson House, subject of an Andrew Wyeth painting, to test a hypothesis.

Artist Peter Marin has created an ofrenda to pay respect to Frida Kahlo as an artist, and to celebrate her contributions to Mexico and Mexican culture.

Durham couple's gift of African art to local museums carries an enormous educational and cultural value.

A Durham couple, former Peace Corps volunteers in Africa, have donated outstanding works from their collection.

Escaping the censorship and racism of Nazi Germany, Josef and Anni Albers arrived in the U.S. as refugees and émigré artist-teachers. In Black Mountain, North Carolina, they left a legacy.

Many works at the North Carolina Museum of Art have interesting past ownership stories too detailed for a short wall label. Senior editor Karen Kelly shares a few of her favorites.

Internationally recognized as a founder of the Grammy-nominated folk-rock band The Avett Brothers, Scott Avett is also a visual artist, and his work appears in an NCMA exhibition this fall.

Most museumgoers know it's not cool to touch works of art, but do they know why? Conservation intern Isabel Green explains how our paws don't have to be that grimy to cause serious damage.

Inspired by the anonymous photoblog Humans of New York, Laura Shanahan catches up with a few music and art lovers to find out what the NCMA's summer concerts mean to them.

In anticipation of the NCMA's highly awaited Monster Drawing Rally, first-time participating artist Kristen Solecki illustrates her personal style in these artful answers to our nosy questions.

The NCMA’s only Egyptian mummy was at one time believed to be a fake. We interview Egyptologist Caroline Rocheleau to unravel the mysteries of this humble object.

Is it possible our Portrait of a Gentleman contains pirate booty? Conservator Perry Hurt brings some history to the mystery.

Inspired by the photoblog Humans of New York, curatorial intern Anna Grace Underwood captures a few more stories.

Many objects of African origin that are housed in museums now have a new level of use and power, as objects for scholarship and contemplation. 

What at first look seemed to be an unassuming wooden figure turned out to contain a surprising discovery.

Resisting mythical representations of the War of Independence, painter William Ranney chose to honor the selfless courage and patriotism exhibited by ordinary farmers and tradesman at the start of the revolution.