Artist Noah Davis founded The Underground Museum to bring world-class art to a neighborhood in Los Angeles — for free. He was just 32 years old when he died from cancer in 2015. Ed Templeton/The Underground Museum hide caption
Art & Design NPR explores the visual arts including design, photography, sculpture, and architecture. Interviews, commentary, and audio. Subscribe to the RSS feed.
Art & Design
Monday
When a person places a finger in the slot on the left, the robot uses an algorithm — unpredictable even to its creator — to decide whether to prick the finger with the pin on the end of its arm. Alexander Reben hide caption
Saturday
The Chichu Art Museum, designed by celebrated Japanese architect Tadao Ando, is built mostly underground. Open courtyards and skylights bring in natural light. The island is internationally known for its works of modern art and architecture. Seiichi Ohsawa Courtesy of Benesse Art Site Naoshima hide caption
Friday
Hilton Pray, 82, holds one of thousands of his photographs that were damaged after an estimated 4-feet of water filled his home in Denham Springs, La. Collin Richie/Humans of the Water hide caption
Gabriel Barcia-Colombo on the TED stage. Ryan Lash/TED hide caption
Gabriel Barcia-Colombo: Can Slow-Moving Art Disrupt Our Hectic Routines?
Thursday
French designer Sonia Rykiel (right) and her daughter, Nathalie Rykiel, artistic director for the fashion house Rykiel, greet the crowd after the presentation of their Spring-Summer 2008 Ready-to-Wear collection, in Paris in 2007. Jacques Brinon/AP hide caption
The Smithsonian's Arts and Industries Building first opened to the public in October 1881, though back then it was known as the U.S. National Museum. Ariel Zambelich/NPR hide caption
Barbie has taken over Paris — she has her very own exhibition at Les Arts Décoratifs. Mattel/Les Arts Décoratifs hide caption
Bonjour, Barbie! An American Icon Packs Her Heels And Heads To France
Tuesday
Former corrections officer Robert Fletcher says he bought this painting from artist Peter Doig in 1976. Bartlow Gallery LTD hide caption
Wednesday
A wealthy American living in Paris, Romaine Brooks had the freedom to paint whatever and however she wanted. Don't let her sober, 1923 Self-Portrait fool you — Smithsonian curator Virginia Mecklenburg says in the 1910s and 1920s, Brooks and her circle of friends had plenty of fun in Paris. Smithsonian American Art Museum hide caption
Tuesday
Opera binocs. Food by Chef John N. Novi. Courtesy of Sergey Jivetin hide caption
Neal Slavin, Frankfurters in Full Dress, 1978, with the recipe: Neal Slavin: Nylen's Frankfurters in Full Dress. Neal Slavin hide caption
Saturday
"Mary POPpuns." Tootsie Pop, Tootsie Roll Frooties and Dum Dum wrappers with acrylic and ink on wood. 2016. Courtesy of Sean Brown hide caption
Wednesday
Top row: The Age of Magic by The Mouse Market, Gothic Bath by Samuel C. Miller III, Apartment 6D by Nix Gerber Studio. Bottom row: White House, White Room by J. Ford Huffman, Reverie of the Stars by Mars Tokyo Designs, My Castle and My Keep by Daisy Tainton. From "Small Stories: At Home In A Dollhouse" at the National Building Museum. Courtesy of the National Building Museum hide caption
Tuesday
This rare 1700s robe volante, or "flying dress," was recently purchased by Palais Galliera, a fashion museum in Paris. Joan de Jean hide caption