Past Exhibitions
Partial Figure
Partial Figure focuses on works from the NCMA collection to demonstrate artists’ enduring fascination with the emotions …
Feb 14, 2026 – Aug 23, 2026
Knowing the West
Knowing the West embraces preexisting impressions of the American West and presents a wide variety of artwork from diver…
May 2, 2026 – Aug 9, 2026
The Creative Lives of Educators
How do educators make space for creative practices in their life outside of teaching? How are teachers inspired and supp…
Nov 22, 2025 – May 1, 2026
The Book of Esther in the Age of Rembrandt
In the age of Rembrandt van Rijn (1606 – 1669), the biblical Book of Esther was a key source of inspiration for diverse …
Sep 25, 2025 – Mar 8, 2026
Then and There, Here and Now: Contemporary Visions of North Carolina
With a diversifying population, rapidly evolving cities, and transforming ecology, North Carolina has undergone immense …
Aug 9, 2025 – Jan 18, 2026
Living Waters
Artist R. Stein Wexler creates place-based work in collaboration with local communities to tell (hi)stories. Her project…
Dec 4, 2024 – Apr 27, 2025
What’s Happening: Survey of NC Master of Fine Arts Programs
Studio visits to MFA programs have always been a reliable way to assess new talent, engage in critical conversations, an…
Nov 23, 2024 – Apr 25, 2025
JP Jermaine Powell—Leadership Reimagined: Share Your Journey
Leadership Reimagined encapsulates the journey of JP Jermaine Powell as artist in residence at the North Carolina Museum…
Oct 19, 2024 – Mar 9, 2025
Samurai: The Making of a Warrior
Samurai: The Making of a Warrior invites visitors to consider the original purpose of Japan’s material culture of war an…
Oct 19, 2024 – Feb 2, 2025
Forever and Never: Photographs by Dan Estabrook
This exhibition features works by artist Dan Estabrook, who uses 19th-century photographic printing processes and materi…
Sep 7, 2024 – Jan 19, 2025
Venice and the Ottoman Empire
This ambitious cross-cultural exhibition explores the relationship between two interconnected European empires over four…
Sep 28, 2024 – Jan 5, 2025
NCMA Outreach: The Artist Innovation Mentorship Program
Experience original artworks by middle school–aged students from across North Carolina in this exhibition that celebrate…
Jun 1, 2024 – Nov 10, 2024