North Carolina Central University

Search the Directory

NCCU Art Museum

North Carolina Central University Art Museum spotlights the creativity and innovation of its emerging artists and designers this spring with New Horizons: The 2026 Department of Art and Design Student Exhibition.

On view March 22 through April 29, 2026, New Horizons celebrates the technical skill, conceptual depth, and interdisciplinary strength of students in the Department of Art and Design. 

The annual exhibition reflects the breadth of artistic practice at NCCU, featuring work from students studying Fashion Design, Architecture, Studio Art, Art Studies, Graphic Design, and Animation and Game Design. Through a formal jurying process, submitted works are reviewed and selected to ensure excellence in craftsmanship, innovation, and creative exploration. 

More than a display of student artwork, New Horizons provides vital professional experience. Participants engage in submission protocols, exhibition preparation, and public presentation hallmarks of professional practice that prepare them for careers in the creative industries. The exhibition serves as both a culmination of academic growth and a launch point into broader artistic and professional communities. 

This image was created by junior Art and Design student Taylor Simmons.

Art and Design in Practice: NCCU Faculty Exhibition

The NCCU Art Museum proudly presents the 2026 NCCU Art and Design Faculty Exhibition, the Museum’s biannual Faculty Exhibition, highlighting the creative research, professional practice, and artistic excellence of the faculty in the Department of Art and Design at North Carolina Central University.

On view from February 10 through March 13, 2026, this signature exhibition offers a unique opportunity for students, alumni, and the broader community to engage with the work of the artists who teach and mentor NCCU students. The Faculty Exhibition reflects the department’s commitment to active studio practice, scholarly inquiry, and innovative design, underscoring the vital connection between teaching and making.

This image is Troy Brown's Matriarch of the Land No. 1.

NCCU Art Museum Presents Durham Public Schools' Student Art Exhibition, "Durham's Finest"

The NCCU Art Museum is honored to present a collaborative exhibition featuring the works of students from Durham Public Schools. The image shown here was created by Sarah Lewis, who is in the 10th grade at Riverside High School. Running now through January 30, 2026, the exhibition highlights the creativity and imagination of these young minds.

The NCCU Art Museum Proudly Presents Eric Kelly, III’s Human Landscapes: The Mystery of the Mark

The North Carolina Central University Art Museum is proud to announce a major exhibition celebrating the extraordinary work of NCCU alumnus Eric A.W. Kelly III, founder of Kelly Worldwide Advertising, an advertising and marketing agency. He is also the director of the Eric Kelly III Museum and one of the most transformative abstract expressive artists of our time. Running from Tuesday, October 21, 2025, to Sunday, January 4, 2026, the exhibition, Human Landscapes: The Mystery of the Mark, presents a groundbreaking fusion of color, sound, and emotional storytelling through paintings spanning seven decades of artistic mastery. In this groundbreaking show, Kelly will present some of his early masterpieces from his days at NCCU, leading up to his present style, known as neo-abstract expressive. The image here is Eric Kelly, III’s Unspeakable Joy. 

Through the Lens of Alumnus Alvin Lester

Experience the powerful photography of NCCU Alumnus Alvin Lester in the exhibition "Through the Lens of Alvin Lester," on view at the NCCU Art Museum. Running now through Thursday, October 16, 2025, this compelling collection highlights Lester’s unique ability to capture emotion, place, and perspective through the camera. From candid portraits to striking landscapes, each image invites viewers to see the world through his lens. The exhibition is free and open to the public. This exhibition is dedicated to the memory of one of Alvin Lester’s best friends, Larry "Fuzzy" Lovette (1951–2003).  The image shown here is Alvin Lester's "Viola’s Sports Shop & Grocery." 

Learn More

Hours of Operation

9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday

2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday

Admission is free.


North Carolina Central University
1801 Fayetteville St, Durham, NC 27707
919-530-6211

About the NCCU Art Museum

Building Cultural Pride by Preserving and Collecting Works of Art

The creation of a museum for North Carolina Central University was a goal in the college's early days.  Founder and President James E. Shepard understood the importance of the fine arts in building cultural pride by preserving and collecting works of art.

Learn More
1,300

Pieces in Our Permanent Collection

16

Art Museum Publications

5

Special Exhibits Each Academic Year

About Our Permanent Collection

The museum’s permanent collection contains works by three major 19th-century African-American artists: Robert S. Duncanson, Edward M. Bannister and Henry Ossawa Tanner. The 20th century is represented by significant artists from the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and the WPA period of the 1930s. Among them are Richmond Barthe, Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett and Jacob Lawrence

Learn More

Exhibition Schedule

Welcome to a museum experience like no other – where curiosity meets inspiration. Embark on a captivating journey through time and culture at our museum, where each exhibit tells a unique story waiting to be explored.

Exhibition Dates 2025-2026

Apply Now

Learn More

Campus Map

View Here