Art & Design NPR explores the visual arts including design, photography, sculpture, and architecture. Interviews, commentary, and audio. Subscribe to the RSS feed.

Art & Design

Friday

The Seven Sorrows of the Virgin, from Prayer Book of Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg, about 1525-1530, Simon Bening. Tempera colors, gold paint, and gold leaf on parchment. Getty Museum hide caption

toggle caption
Getty Museum

'Visualizing the Virgin' shows Mary in the Middle Ages

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1145559044/1146169576" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Saturday

A drawing from a series featuring the character Colonel Heeza Liar, which ran from 1913-17 and 1922-24, that Kelley worked on. Manitou Productions hide caption

toggle caption
Manitou Productions

Her work as a pioneering animator was lost to history — until now

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1145092476/1145092559" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday

Looted Benin Bronzes that were returned by Germany to Nigeria are examined during a ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday. Nigerian officials said that more than 5,000 ancient artifacts are estimated to have been stolen from Nigeria, the majority by British colonizers. Olamikan Gbemiga/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Olamikan Gbemiga/AP

Mohsen Lihidheb stands in the backyard of his museum that is filled with things that he's collected after the waves brought them ashore in Zarzis, Tunisia. Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Claire Harbage/NPR

A Tunisian artist is hoping to keep the memories of migrants alive

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1142797756/1144083031" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday

Malaka Gharib/ NPR

Terrible at buying Christmas presents? Peep our guide for clever gift ideas

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1142750086/1218502851" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Saturday

Saturday

Friday

Steve Lacy performs at The Fillmore Silver Spring in Maryland on Oct. 15, 2022. Kyle Gustafson/The Washington Post/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Kyle Gustafson/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Thursday

The silhouette of a person is seen in the middle of a large gallery space at ARTECHOUSE in Washington, DC. Panels covering the surrounding walls and floor are illuminated with artistic projections of neurons. ARTECHOUSE Team hide caption

toggle caption
ARTECHOUSE Team

Wednesday

The Smithsonian shines a light on designer and sculptor Maya Lin

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1139848220/1139848221" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

A general View of Bellevue Hospital in October, 2014. Kena Betancur / Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Kena Betancur / Getty Images

Monday

Now that Thanksgiving is over, the age-old debate alights: When should you hang up your Christmas decorations? A new survey reveals where Americans stand. Kinga Krzeminska/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Kinga Krzeminska/Getty Images

When should you put up Christmas lights? A new survey illuminates an evergreen debate

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1139388772/1139388773" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

A flower crafted by Nell Greenfieldboyce, at an American Society for Microbiology event highlighting agar art. Aidan Rogers/Edvotek hide caption

toggle caption
Aidan Rogers/Edvotek