Across photographs, patterns, symbols and layers of color, Charles Joyner creates a visual conversation between Africa and African American life. His work explores the threads of ancestry, identity, spirituality and shared history that connect people across generations and continents. The North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Art Museum brings that conversation home with “Common Threads: The Art of Charles Joyner,” on view Aug. 4 through Oct. 18, 2026.
The exhibition features mixed-media works that combine photography, painting and printmaking to explore the cultural connections between Africa and African American communities. Through layered compositions and symbolic imagery, Joyner examines the histories, traditions and experiences that shape individual and collective identity.
Joyner’s artistic practice is rooted in decades of research, teaching and cultural exchange. His longstanding relationship with North Carolina Central University makes this exhibition a meaningful homecoming.
Joyner joined the NCCU Department of Art in 1973, where he worked with graphic design educator Sam Molina to establish a concentration in visual communication. Their efforts helped strengthen the foundation of a program that continues to educate generations of artists and designers.
After leaving NCCU, Joyner continued his academic career at North Carolina State University, where he now serves as professor emeritus of art and design. He also directed the Ghana Study Abroad Program, creating opportunities for students to engage with one of West Africa’s significant cultural centers. His extensive travels, teaching and artistic collaborations in Ghana have profoundly influenced his creative practice and the conceptual framework of his work.
The works featured in “Common Threads” combine Joyner’s original photographic imagery with patterns and symbols inspired by West African textiles, crafts and architecture. Drawing from the visual language of Kente cloth and Adinkra symbols, he employs a distinctive collage process that integrates photography, painting and printmaking. The resulting compositions bridge cultures while exploring the historical, spiritual and emotional ties connecting African and African American communities.
Reflecting on his experiences in Ghana, Joyner describes his artwork as a way of translating cultural connections into a personal visual language. The motifs, materials and traditions he encountered have become vehicles for exploring identity, ancestry, ritual and belonging. Each work invites viewers to consider the threads that unite people across generations and continents, revealing shared histories and enduring cultural resilience.
An opening reception featuring the artist will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. Visitors will have an opportunity to meet Joyner and learn more about the ideas and experiences that inform his work.
The NCCU Art Museum is located at 580 E. Lawson St., across from the Farrison-Newton Communications Building on the campus of North Carolina Central University. The museum is accessible to visitors with disabilities.
The museum is open Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. and Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. For general information or assistance, call 919-530-6211. Groups are encouraged to call in advance to arrange visits.