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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

Author Interviews

'Great Outdoor Fight' Flows From Web To Page

Chris Onstad's web-comic Achewood may be modeled on stuffed animals, but it's anything but cuddly. The new print compilation of the strip highlights The Great Outdoor Fight — featuring three days, three acres and 3,000 men.

'Great Outdoor Fight' Flows From Web To Page

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Saturday

World

Sandbag House Wins Humanitarian Award

This week, the Curry Stone Design Prize was awarded to a South African architecture firm that figured out how to make a cheap house with a timber frame and a whole lot of sandbags. The houses are energy efficient and easily assembled, and could replace more hazardous structures in the shantytowns around Cape Town.

Sandbag House Wins Humanitarian Award

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Thursday

Culture

'Greenest' Museum To Open In San Francisco

A building heralded as the greenest museum in the world opens Saturday in San Francisco. Italian architect Renzo Piano tucked the building into the hills of Golden Gate Park — in both form and function, the museum fits into the natural world surrounding it.

'Greenest' Museum To Open In San Francisco

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Wednesday

Howard Bingham: Photographing Ali And America

Howard Bingham describes himself as the "Forrest Gump of photojournalism" — frequently "popping up" at just the right time to document some of the greatest moments in U.S. history. He is best known for his portraits of boxing great Muhammad Ali.

Listen to this 'Talk of the Nation' topic

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Monday

National

In San Francisco, Making Art At The Dump

San Francisco recycles or diverts 69 percent of its trash, but sends 1,800 tons of garbage to the landfill each day. One way the city makes a dent in its landfill load is through an unusual program — sponsoring artists who turn garbage into art.

In San Francisco, Making Art At The Dump

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Friday

Culture

'Pushing Daisies,' Alive With Fantasy, Mystery

Fresh Air

In the ABC series, Pushing Daises, co-executive producers Barry Sonnenfeld and Bryan Fuller combine romance, fantasy and mystery to tell the story of a man who can bring the dead back to life. The first season of the show is now out on DVD.

'Pushing Daisies,' Alive With Fantasy, Mystery

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Monday

Culture

Prefab: From Utilitarian Home To Design Icon

Architects' answer to efficient design is the prefab home, which has been both a design sensation and a cookie-cutter bore over the years. A current MoMA exhibit explores the history of that house and shows how technology could make innovative design more affordable.

Prefab: From Utilitarian Home To Design Icon

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Sunday

Books

Daniel Mendelsohn, Examining The 'Beautiful'

A classical scholar with a voracious appetite for high and low culture alike, he's dauntingly smart — but far too interested in why we love what we love to be a snob. Jacki Lyden talks to Mendelsohn about his new essay collection.

Daniel Mendelsohn, Examining The 'Beautiful'

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Thursday

Culture

Pigs Out, But Artist Sells Tattoo Off Man's Back

Eight tattooed pigs were supposed to be part of Wim Delvoye's exhibit at a Chinese art show. But authorities didn't consider them art, so Delvoye tattooed an elaborate scene on a man's back and displayed him instead. A collector has purchased the tattoo — with the right to remove it after the man dies.

Pigs Out, But Artist Sells Tattoo Off Man's Back

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From Our Listeners

Artist Personifies NPR Listener's Grocery List

Hillary Carlip interprets shopping lists as if they were Rorschach inkblots. She selected a typed, meticulously organized list sent by a listener and created a character based on clues. The result is "a little sinister," according to the list's actual author.

Artist Personifies NPR Listener's Grocery List

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Wednesday

Pop Culture

What Is She Wearing? Fashion Laws Of Politics

Americans are not only scrutinizing presidential candidates for their positions on the issues. There are also lots of opinions about the sense of style embraced by the candidates' wives and other women on the campaign trail. A fashion reporter and former congresswoman discuss the style of would-be first ladies Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain.

What Is She Wearing? Fashion Laws Of Politics

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Pop Culture

Saving Superman's House: Comic Book Fans Unite

In 1986, the city of Cleveland declared the house where Jerry Siegel thought up the Superman character to be a landmark. But today, the house is falling apart — and a group of high-profile fans is trying to save it, by auctioning art and other work.

Saving Superman's House: Comic Book Fans Unite

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Tuesday

Music News

Can Taste Be Taught?

Justin Davidson, a classical music critic for New York Magazine, ponders when, where and how kids learn to have taste in music and art. He talks about his quest to teach his 10-year-old son Milo about the finer things in life.

Can Taste Be Taught?

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Monday

Culture

J.J. Abrams, Life On The 'Fringe'

Fresh Air

Lost creator J.J. Abrams discusses his latest television show, Fringe. The show, which Abrams describes as having a "a slight 'Twilight Zone' vibe," focuses on the unnatural occurrences in the world of a brilliant but mentally-unstable research scientist.

J.J. Abrams, Life On The 'Fringe'

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Tuesday