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

Art & Design

Saturday July 31, 2010

Ansel Adams Or Not? The Answer's Worth Millions

One of the negatives discovered by Rick Norsigian. Courtesy Rick Norsigian hide caption

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Courtesy Rick Norsigian

Ansel Adams Or Not? The Answer's Worth Millions

July 31, 2010 • It's an irresistible story. A building painter in Fresno, Calif., announces negatives he bought for $45 at a yard sale were taken by Ansel Adams. But the renowned photographer's family thinks the story is too good to be true, and the heat's on to prove the negatives' authenticity.

Ansel Adams Or Not? The Answer's Worth Millions

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Friday July 30, 2010

Leonard Nimoy

Leonard Nimoy's Photography: Let Your Secret Nerd Rejoice!

July 30, 2010 • It may come as delightful news that in real life, "Mr. Spock" is a photographer. His latest photo series, "Secret Selves," is about to go on display.

Thursday July 29, 2010

Thomas Day: A Master Craftsman, With Complications

July 29, 2010 • Thomas Day was a successful North Carolina furniture builder and woodworker in the decades before the Civil War. He was also of mixed-race heritage — and he appears to have owned slaves. A new book and exhibition tell his story.

Thomas Day: A Master Craftsman, With Complications

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Courtesy of George Eastman House

Colorama! 'The World's Largest Photographs' Are Back

July 29, 2010 • Kodak's panoramic Coloramas were huge. They were discontinued. And now they're back!

Wednesday July 28, 2010

Image composite via 100milligrams.com

Have Your Camera And Drink From It, Too

July 28, 2010 • The perfect gift for your beloved photography nerd-slash-coffee junkie, i.e., you.

Tuesday July 27, 2010

Ansel Adams

Lost And Found: Yard Sale Ansel Adams

July 27, 2010 • Purchased at a yard sale, a batch of negatives has been verified as authentic Ansel Adams. The large glass negatives, purchased for $45, are valued at $200 million.

The Man Behind The Men Behind The Cameras

July 27, 2010 • About two weekends ago, a curious happening took place. Thirty-five of the country's best photojournalists gathered to surprise a man whom they all "wanted to murder."

Monday July 26, 2010

Roderik Henderson

100 Words: Roderik Henderson On Waiting

July 26, 2010 • What's so special about people sitting in cars? An award-winning photographer explains his series.

Photograph via Getty Images, illustration by Benjamin Hammond Benjamin Hammond hide caption

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Benjamin Hammond

Pressed For Time? One Minute Portraits!

July 26, 2010 • Thanks to photography, the days of sitting for a portrait are long-gone. And thanks to technology, you can now you can have your portrait drawn in a minute.

Sunday July 25, 2010

Eakins' Classic 'Gross Clinic' Gets Another Look

The restored version of "The Gross Clinic," above, is characterized by darker hues that bring the image closer to what Thomas Eakins originally painted in 1875. The Philadelphia Museum of Art hide caption

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The Philadelphia Museum of Art

Fine Art

Eakins' Classic 'Gross Clinic' Gets Another Look

July 25, 2010 • Have we been looking at the wrong version of Thomas Eakins' "The Gross Clinic" all along? The Philadelphia Museum of Art is restoring the painting.

Eakins' Classic 'Gross Clinic' Gets Another Look

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Saturday July 24, 2010

Steve McCurry's famous "Afghan Girl," Peshawar, Pakistan, 1984. Steve McCurry hide caption

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Steve McCurry

The Picture Show

Exposed: The Last Roll Of Kodachrome

July 24, 2010 • Photojournalist Steve McCurry received the last roll of Kodak's iconic film and has just processed the results.

Exposed: The Last Roll Of Kodachrome

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Friday July 23, 2010

Culture

Why Do We Like What We Like?

July 23, 2010 • Why do we enjoy things like bitter foods and horror films? And are we the only species that likes art? Paul Bloom, professor of psychology at Yale University and author of How Pleasure Works, explains our penchant for art and why we find some unpleasant things so enjoyable.

Why Do We Like What We Like?

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