Steven Nelson
@snelsonus.bsky.social
Former dean, Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, National Gallery of Art; UCLA professor emeritus; and left-handed art historian who sees lots of shiny objects.
Films, panels, and artist presentations at Howard University this weekend. If you’re in the area, join us!
November 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Films, panels, and artist presentations at Howard University this weekend. If you’re in the area, join us!
Happening this Wednesday at Bates College. My lecture, tilted “The Underground Railroad, Quilts, and the Power of Desire,” will take place at 4:30 in the Benjamin Mays Center. If you’re in the area, please come!
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Happening this Wednesday at Bates College. My lecture, tilted “The Underground Railroad, Quilts, and the Power of Desire,” will take place at 4:30 in the Benjamin Mays Center. If you’re in the area, please come!
It was wonderful to have taken part in the gathering “The Education of the Eyes: 150 Years of Art History at Harvard,” this past weekend. Seeing old and new friends, mentors, colleagues, and students was exhilarating. Photo by Sarah Lewis.
#arthistory #closelooking
#arthistory #closelooking
November 10, 2025 at 2:23 AM
It was wonderful to have taken part in the gathering “The Education of the Eyes: 150 Years of Art History at Harvard,” this past weekend. Seeing old and new friends, mentors, colleagues, and students was exhilarating. Photo by Sarah Lewis.
#arthistory #closelooking
#arthistory #closelooking
It was wonderful being in conversation with artist Victor Ekpuk about his fantastic work late night.
From Victor: “When someone grounds their research about your art in cultural historical facts and quotes you verbatim, you know you’re talking to an art historian.”
From Victor: “When someone grounds their research about your art in cultural historical facts and quotes you verbatim, you know you’re talking to an art historian.”
October 10, 2025 at 2:01 AM
It was wonderful being in conversation with artist Victor Ekpuk about his fantastic work late night.
From Victor: “When someone grounds their research about your art in cultural historical facts and quotes you verbatim, you know you’re talking to an art historian.”
From Victor: “When someone grounds their research about your art in cultural historical facts and quotes you verbatim, you know you’re talking to an art historian.”
This exhibition is an extraordinary cavalcade of work from that time that gives a broad view of Black makers and their formal and social concerns. The exhibition design is extraordinary.
October 3, 2025 at 3:50 PM
This exhibition is an extraordinary cavalcade of work from that time that gives a broad view of Black makers and their formal and social concerns. The exhibition design is extraordinary.
The were joined by a second work.
October 3, 2025 at 3:31 PM
The were joined by a second work.
The Trump-Epstein friendship statue has returned to the National Mall, on 3rd St. by the National Gallery of Art East Building.
October 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM
The Trump-Epstein friendship statue has returned to the National Mall, on 3rd St. by the National Gallery of Art East Building.
Pearl of wisdom.
September 29, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Pearl of wisdom.
Excited to be in conversation with artist Victor Ekpuk about his work. The event will be held Oct. 8 at the Goethe-Institut. It’s free and open to the public.
www.eventbrite.com/e/creating-p...
www.eventbrite.com/e/creating-p...
September 27, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Excited to be in conversation with artist Victor Ekpuk about his work. The event will be held Oct. 8 at the Goethe-Institut. It’s free and open to the public.
www.eventbrite.com/e/creating-p...
www.eventbrite.com/e/creating-p...
@mattdaviescartoon.bsky.social shows us what this looks like.
September 9, 2025 at 3:07 PM
@mattdaviescartoon.bsky.social shows us what this looks like.
Victor Ekpuk’s wonderful 10-foot dancer was installed on Saturday in Washington, DC. It’s located at the corner of 14th and R sts. NW.
September 8, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Victor Ekpuk’s wonderful 10-foot dancer was installed on Saturday in Washington, DC. It’s located at the corner of 14th and R sts. NW.
Great news! The Baltimore Museum of Art is taking “Amy Sherald: American Sublime,” which was originally scheduled to take place at the National Portrait Gallery. artbma.org/exhibition/a...
September 3, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Great news! The Baltimore Museum of Art is taking “Amy Sherald: American Sublime,” which was originally scheduled to take place at the National Portrait Gallery. artbma.org/exhibition/a...
One of the drawings.
August 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
One of the drawings.
Loved seeing @sandrabernhard.bsky.social performing at the Provincetown Town Hall this evening.
July 30, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Loved seeing @sandrabernhard.bsky.social performing at the Provincetown Town Hall this evening.
After seven years at the Center for the Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, two as Andrew W. Mellon Professor and five as Dean, I will retire from the National Gallery of Art on July 18.
I am proud of what we have accomplished since 2020. (1/3)
I am proud of what we have accomplished since 2020. (1/3)
July 15, 2025 at 1:56 AM
After seven years at the Center for the Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, two as Andrew W. Mellon Professor and five as Dean, I will retire from the National Gallery of Art on July 18.
I am proud of what we have accomplished since 2020. (1/3)
I am proud of what we have accomplished since 2020. (1/3)
Out of many wonderful events during my tenure at the UCLA African Studies Center, one of the most extraordinary was Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o’s 2017 James Coleman Lecture. Reading from his writings and reminiscing on work and life, Ngugi’s presentation was simply mind altering.
Rest in peace and power.
Rest in peace and power.
May 29, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Out of many wonderful events during my tenure at the UCLA African Studies Center, one of the most extraordinary was Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o’s 2017 James Coleman Lecture. Reading from his writings and reminiscing on work and life, Ngugi’s presentation was simply mind altering.
Rest in peace and power.
Rest in peace and power.