by Kelly Rectenwald, Conservator of Objects

3/27/2025

CAMconservation, mercury, objects conservation, mirror, Groesbeck House, gilded frame, 19th century furniture

Inside our objects conservation lab, this 19th-century mirror is once again standing upright in all of its glory for the first time in several decades.

by Rose Milnes, Curatorial Assistant of South Asian Art, Islamic Art, and Antiquities

3/20/2025

Curatorial Blog, Shahzia Sikander: Collective Behavior, exhibition design, exhibition development

What the public sees over a span of a few months—whether a gallery rotation, a new show, a series of events, or the flying banners placed above the museum’s entryway—actually takes years to create by countless individuals across the institution and beyond.

by Franck Mercurio, Publications Editor

3/13/2025

Diego Rivera, Mary Joy Johnson, portrait

Who is this mystery woman painted by the Mexican artist Diego Rivera (1886–1957) more than 85 years ago?

by Bruce Petrie, President, Board of Trustees

3/13/2025

Yogi Berra, Baseball, Pinocchio, Art Climb

A lawyer friend of mine says that when he was a kid his mom had a way of mixing metaphors when she was giving mom advice. “We’ll burn that bridge when we get to it, son.” This turn of phrase got his attention not only with words but more memorably with visual imagery.

by Bruce Petrie, President, Board of Trustees

3/11/2025

SketchCAM, Shahzia Sikander: Collective Behavior, geometry

In this edition of SketchCAM, we look at the amazing exhibition Shahzia Sikander: Collective Behavior in a way you might imagine belongs in math class. Using our simple tools of pencil and sketchbook, we'll reveal the “secret geometry” of great artwork.

by Franck Mercurio, Publications Editor

3/4/2025

Shahzia Sikander: Collective Behavior, exhibition design, South Asian Art, Islamic Art, antiquities, Contemporary Art

What goes into designing a museum exhibition like Shahzia Sikander: Collective Behavior?

by Cincinnati Art Museum

3/3/2025

Rosenthal Education Center, REC, REC Artist in Residence, RECade

We’ve been busy in the Rosenthal Education Center (REC) celebrating 10 years of art-filled fun with A RECade: 10 Years of the Rosenthal Education Center!

by Elena Vincent, Curatorial Administrative Assistant

2/21/2025

Valentine's Day

Sending and receiving Valentine’s Day cards brings a special kind of joy that transcends age.

by Obie Linn, Conservator of Textiles

2/13/2025

CAMConservation, textile conservation

How many different fabrics are you wearing right now?

by Obie Linn, Conservator of Textiles

2/12/2025

CAMConservation, textile conservation, Zandra Rhodes

This Zandra Rhodes robe has undergone a journey!

by Cecile Mear, Conservator of Works on Paper

2/6/2025

Alice and Carl Bimel, Shahzia Sikander: Collective Behavior, Indian painting, paper conservation, CAMConservation

My initial examination of the painting revealed that some of the paint was poorly attached to the paper support, so before the work went into the gallery, it made a stop in the paper lab.

by Bruce Petrie, President, Board of Trustees

2/6/2025

SketchCAM, tessellations

A tessellation is a geometric pattern of shapes that fit together and can repeat infinitely. For starters, think checkerboards, tile floors, honeycombs, soccer ball patterns—but tessellations go way beyond these familiarities, taking an infinite number of shapes and forms.

by Emma Hensley, Manager of Tours and CAM Commons

1/24/2025

Marek-Weaver Family Commons, Evenings for Educators, Koetters and Eckerle classrooms

The Cincinnati Art Museum’s new Marek Weaver Family Commons has quickly become an essential addition to our programming.

by Mackenzie Strong, Curatorial Assistant for Decorative Arts & Design

1/17/2025

Contemporary Japanese Design, Fashion Arts & Textiles

What do a multicolored porcelain shoe, a leaf-inspired vessel, a textured organic sculpture, and a floral jacket and skirt ensemble have in common?

by Franck Mercurio, Publications Editor

12/23/2024

Lunken Airport murals, WPA, New Deal, Art Deco, William Harry Gothard, CAMConservation, Sky Galley

In December 1937, the Cincinnati Enquirer interviewed William “Harry” Gothard (1908–1968), a 29-year-old artist and budding art conservator, as he painted the final touches on two murals created for Lunken Airport’s newly constructed Administration building.

by Bruce Petrie, President, Board of Trustees

12/23/2024

SketchCAM, Mr. Paint, Marek Family Commons, Marek-Weaver Family Commons

Our roving SketchCAM reporter was on site to interview Mr. Paint and asked if we could paint his portrait.

by Cincinnati Art Museum

12/18/2024

Year in Review, Charles White: A Little Higher, Whitfield Lovell: Passages, Shahzia Sikander: Collective Behavior, The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Art in the 21st Century, Discovering Ansel Adams

Join us as we look back on our noteworthy milestones and accomplishments of the past year.

by Serena Urry, Chief Conservator

12/12/2024

CAMConservation, paintings conservation, John Francis, still lifes

Basket of Fruit, a still life by American artist John Francis (1808–1886), was last conserved here at CAM in 1975.

by Cecile Mear, Conservator of Works on Paper

12/9/2024

The Sweetest Thing, Gee Horton, KMAC Contemporary Art Museum, paper conservation, Black on Both Sides, CAMConservation

In November I travelled to Louisville, Kentucky, to help install two drawings by Cincinnati-based artist Gee Horton at KMAC Contemporary Art Museum.

by Franck Mercurio, Publications Editor

12/4/2024

vintage, Diego Rivera, Fashion

In his painted portrait of Mary Joy Johnson from 1939, the celebrated artist Diego Rivera (1886–1957) explored a unique artistic direction, creating a work highlighting the sitter’s individuality and style while subtly echoing an enduring connection to his Mexican heritage

by Bruce Petrie, President, Board of Trustees

11/27/2024

SketchCAM, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Rosenthal Education Center

We've watched our fair share of Bluey, Paw Patrol, and Minions with seven grandkids; but when we encourage kids to be creators themselves, we move from screen to sketch, from passive to active.

by Mrs. Natalie Fischer, who teaches Art 9-12 at Mercy McAuley High School

11/21/2024

Ansel Adams, Discovering Ansel Adams, Evenings for Educators, teacher blog, teacher programs, Teacher resources, Teachers

This month’s Evenings for Educators offers an exciting chance to explore the legacy of photographer Ansel Adams and learn how his mastery of light and shadow can inspire students to create truly impactful photographs.

by Bruce Petrie, President, Board of Trustees

11/14/2024

SketchCAM, Isabella, Jaume Plensa

Let’s see how this works with Isabella, the museum’s outdoor sculpture by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa.

by Obie Linn, Conservator of Textiles

11/13/2024

CAMConservation, textile conservation, historic lace

*Warning: puns and silly wordplay ahead! If that’s not your thing, this may not be the pLACE for you!

by Allie Blankenship, Curatorial Assistant for Photography

11/13/2024

Discovering Ansel Adams, Curatorial Blog, photograph, music

You might not think that black and white nature photography and music go hand in hand, but for photographer Ansel Adams they did—and in the exhibition Discovering Ansel Adams, they do for CAM as well!

by Martha Pike, Special Events Coordinator

10/24/2024

wedding, Home, Fairlea Floral & Gardens, paper cranes

Whether planning a lavish party or a more intimate get-together, holding your wedding at the Cincinnati Art Museum helps support our mission of inspiring people and connecting communities through the power of art.

by Bruce Petrie, President, Board of Trustees

10/22/2024

SketchCAM, Nazca Desert, Peru

More than 2,000 years ago, people living in the Nazca Desert in Peru discovered an artform using the unique earthen materials of their harsh environment.

by Obie Linn, Conservator of Textiles

10/10/2024

CAMConservation, textile conservation, 1890s fashion, Cincinnati Wing

In the textile conservation lab, a three-piece 1890s cotton muslin ensemble arrived for treatment!

by Kelly Rectenwald, Conservator of Objects

10/3/2024

CAMConservation, objects conservation, Cloisonne Tray, Qing Dynasty

The dark grime on its surface is thick and unevenly embedded in the layers of a degraded wax coating.

by Bruce Petrie, President, Board of Trustees

9/27/2024

Sketching, SketchCAM, Ansel Adams, Discovering Ansel Adams, photograph, landscapes

For this edition of SketchCAM, let’s take our sketchbook and pencil into Discovering Ansel Adams, featuring the landscape photography of Ansel Adams (1902–1984) on view from September 27, 2024 to January 19, 2025.