Skip to main content
Hours of operation Today 10 AM - 9 PM.
program

Nasher Museum of Art
20th Anniversary Celebration

Join the Nasher for
our 20th Anniversary!

This year, the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University celebrates 20 years of innovation, inclusion, and impact. Since 2005, the museum has become a leading voice in contemporary art, known for championing artists of color and underrepresented voices. As a vital cultural hub for Duke and the wider community, the Nasher has hosted groundbreaking exhibitions and built a dynamic global collection. Join us in celebrating this milestone with special events and exhibitions throughout the year.

Visitors crowd the Sculpture Garden to experience Composition 21 by Naama Tsabar by Brooklyn-based, Israeli-born artist Naama Tsabar.

Saturday, October 18, 2025 Community Celebration

 
Enjoy a day filled with creativity, community, and fun for all ages as the museum celebrates 20 years with art-making activities, live music, and interactive learning.

Join Us!
a lime green background with a white "20" on top. topographic lines overlay everything

Nancy A. Nasher &
David J. Haemisegger Family
Sculpture Garden Opening

 
Explore new walkable paths, native gardens, and outdoor art in a vibrant green space designed for community gatherings and events.

OPENING at NOON — 10/18/2025
Learn More
  • Self-Portrait as the Professor of Astronomy, Miscegenation, and Critical Theory at “The New Negro Escapist Social and Athletic Club” Center for Graduate Studies (L.29.2014.1)

    Rashid Johnson, Self-Portrait as the Professor of Astronomy, Miscegenation, and Critical Theory at "The New Negro Escapist Social and Athletic Club" Center for Graduate Studies, 2009. Lambda print, overall: 51 1/2 × 90 inches (130.8 × 228.6 cm), each sheet: 51 1/2 × 45 inches (130.8 × 114.3 cm). Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, 2025.11.2. Gift of Marjorie (P’16, P’19, P’19) and Michael Levine (B.S.’84, P’16, P’19, P’19).

  • Nina Chanel Abney, Hobson's Choice, 2017

    Nina Chanel Abney, Hobson's Choice, 2017. Acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 84 1/4 × 120 1/16 inches (214 × 305 cm). Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. Museum purchase, 2017.24.1. © Nina Chanel Abney. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.

  • a geometric pattern with geometric letters that read "The future is present"

    Jeffrey Gibson, THE FUTURE IS PRESENT, 2019. Digital print, silkscreen, collage, gloss varnish, and custom color frame; 38 × 34 inches (96.5 × 86.4 cm). © Jeffrey Gibson. Courtesy of Sikkema Malloy Jenkins, New York.

  • a man wearing a loose noose looks into a mirror on a vanity, while three colonial-era dressed mannequins look on

    Sherman Fleming, Invisible n00se: Bearing Witness at the National Underground Museum, 2017. Photo documentation of performance. Documented by Ed Marshall. Courtesy of the Artist. © Sherman Fleming.

  • a woman drinking out of a mcdonald's cup and holding a mcdonald's meal stands infront of a red car that is in front of an american flag mural

    Genevieve Gaignard, Drive-By, Side-Eye, 2016. Chromogenic print, edition 1/3, 24 × 36 inches (61 × 91.4 cm). Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Durham, NC. Gift of Jennifer McCracken New (A.B.’90, J.D.’94, P’24, P’25) and Jason G. New (J.D.’94, P’24, P’25), 2018.6.3. © Genevieve Gaignard. Image courtesy of the artist and Shulamit Nazarian, Los Angeles.

  • Barkley L. Hendricks, Bahsir (Robert Gowens), 1975. Oil and acrylic on canvas, 83 ½ x 66 inches (212.1 x 167.6 cm). Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. Museum purchase with additional funds provided by Jack Neely, 2007.5.1. © Barkley L. Hendricks. Photo by Peter Paul Geoffrion.

    Barkley L. Hendricks, Bahsir (Robert Gowens), 1975. Oil and acrylic on canvas, 83 ½ x 66 inches (212.1 x 167.6 cm). Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. Museum purchase with additional funds provided by Jack Neely, 2007.5.1. © Barkley L. Hendricks. Photo by Peter Paul Geoffrion.

  • a hand-lettered posted that says "drop the spot" in brown, red and black

    Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds, Drop The Spot, 1990. Pastel on paper, 22 × 30 inches (55.88 × 76.2 cm). Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Durham, NC. Museum purchase with funds provided by Marjorie (P’16, P’19, P’19) and Michael Levine (B.S.’84, P’16, P’19, P’19), 2020.10.1. © Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds. Courtesy of the artist and Fort Gansevoort. Photo by Peter Paul Geoffrion.

  • Sherman Fleming, You Mean Leroi Dig? 1988. Acrylic on watercolor paper, 24 × 32 inches (60.96 × 81.28 cm). Gift of Kristine Stiles. 2020.13.1. © Sherman Fleming. 

    Sherman Fleming, You Mean Leroi Dig? 1988. Acrylic on watercolor paper, 24 × 32 inches (60.96 × 81.28 cm). Gift of Kristine Stiles. 2020.13.1. © Sherman Fleming. 

  • a gold framed back and white picture of three children

    Artist Unknown, Untitled (boy and two girls), c. 1850s. Daguerreotype, 4 x 5 x 1 inches (10.16 x 12.7 x 2.54 cm). Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Durham, NC. Gift of Dr. James and Jane Finch, 2023.29.5.

  • Nick Cave, Soundsuit, 2015

    Nick Cave, Soundsuit, 2015. Mixed media including wire and bugle beads, buttons, sequined appliqués, fabric, metal, and mannequin; 109 × 29 × 19 inches (276.9 × 73.7 × 48.3 cm). Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. Museum purchase with additional funds provided by the Office of the Provost, Duke University; 2016.3.1. © Nick Cave. Image courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York. Photo by James Prinz Photography.

  • slot machine called "Cluster's Last Hand"

    Tom Farris, Custer's Last Hand, 2024. Decommissioned and repurposed slot machine, 53 × 26 × 20 inches (134.62 × 66.04 × 50.8 cm). Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Durham, NC. Museum purchase, 2025.9.1. ©Tom Farris. Photo by Brian Quinby.

  • Sherman Fleming, Handmade postcard, n.d

    Sherman Fleming, Handmade postcard, n.d. Watercolor, typed text, xeroxed and collaged images on paper, 5 1/2 × 3 1/2 inches (13.97 × 8.89 cm). Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. Gift of Kristine Stiles. 2020.13.27

  • Nasher Museum 20th Anniversary Exhibitions

    In honor of its 20th anniversary, the Nasher Museum presents a compelling series of exhibitions that reflect its ongoing commitment to bold, inclusive contemporary art. Coming into Focus: A Snapshot of Photography at the Nasher (column 1, above from left) highlights standout works from the museum’s growing photography collection, while Everything Now All At Once (column 2) features iconic pieces by underrepresented artists. Power, Presence, and Future: American Indian Pop Art in Action (column 3) offers a vibrant exploration of Indigeneity through Pop Art, and Sherman Fleming: Unsettled (column 4) traces four decades of powerful, performance-based work by the influential multimedia artist.

Double
Your
Impact

As we mark the Nasher Museum of Art’s 20th Anniversary, we’re especially thankful for those who continue to support the museum and believe in our vision for the future.

Thanks to a generous match from our Board of Advisors, all gifts to the Nasher Museum Annual Fund will be doubled, up to $400,000.

The Annual Fund provides critical support for the museum’s general operations, including dynamic exhibitions, innovative education programs, and meaningful community engagement.

Make your gift today and double your impact!

GIVE NOW

The Nasher Museum’s commitment to championing underrepresented artists, innovating through our exhibitions and programs, building deep community partnerships, and catalyzing interdisciplinary learning has made the Nasher a space where art and ideas thrive. Our 20th anniversary is a moment to reflect on our impact while envisioning an even more inclusive future, centering artists, students, and our community.

Trevor Schoonmaker
    Mary D.B.T. and James H. Semans Director
two women hold to-go cups

Barkley L. Hendricks
Limited Edition Print

 
The Nasher Museum is proud to offer an extraordinary opportunity for collectors and supporters: a museum-exclusive, limited-edition analog silver gelatin print of North Carolina Sisters (1978) by the legendary American artist Barkley L. Hendricks.

Reserve Yours Now!
  • headshot of Amy Sherald

    Amy Sherald delivers her signature artist talk, 2018.

  • a man looks down to boots placed on a white patch on the hardwood floor next to him

    Dario Robleto with his work in Southern Accent: Seeking the American South in Contemporary Art, 2016.

  • two men sit on a bench in front of a tan brick wall

    Artists william córdova and Mel Chin before Chin delivers his Signature Artist lecture, 2023

  • a man smiles with two black and white photos behind him on the wall

    John Akomfrah delivers his signature artist talk at the Nasher Museum of Art, 2011.

  • Artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons poses for her Behold exhibition portrait, 2024.

    Artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons poses for her Behold exhibition portrait, 2024.

  • a man and a woman pose together

    portraits of artist Barkley Hendricks and opening night reception for the exhibit Barkley Hendricks: Birth of the Cool at the Nasher Museum of Art

  • headshot of Cannupa Hanska Luger

    Cannupa Hanska Luger during the Speechless signature artist talk, 2025.

  • three people pose together

    Carrie Mae Weems with Professor Richard Powell at The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl exhibition, 2011.

  • Dan Perjovschi installing wall drawings for States of Mind, 2007.

    Dan Perjovschi installing wall drawings for States of Mind, 2007.

  • Artist Nina Chanel Abney with Marshall Price, Ph.D, Chief Curator and Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, walking through Abney's first solo exhibition Royal Flush, 2016.

    Artist Nina Chanel Abney with Marshall Price, Ph.D, Chief Curator and Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, walking through Abney's first solo exhibition Royal Flush, 2016.

  • a man, with his back to the camera, looks at a geometric, brightly colored mural

    Odili Donald Odita with his mural at the Nasher Museum, 2015.

  • an artistic shot of a woman wearing a newsboy cap

    Wangechi Mutu during the installation of A Fantastic Journey, 2013.

  • a woman in a black and white polka dot dress stands in front of two black and white photographs

    Artist Hayley Millar Baker at the Director's Preview for Second Nature: Photography in the Age of the Anthropocene, 2024.

  • Kerry James Marshall adds the finishing touches to a painting

    Kerry James Marshall signs his Portrait of the Artist & a Vacuum at the Nasher Museum, 2012.

  • Mark Bradford, william córdova, and Trevor Schoonmaker at the opening of Street Level, 2007.

    Mark Bradford, william córdova, and Trevor Schoonmaker at the opening of Street Level, 2007.

  • a woman holds a child up next to her face

    Artist Stacy Lynn Waddell at the Open This End exhibition opening, 2015.

  • Who We Are
    Who We're Becoming

    The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University is a dynamic community museum dedicated to deepening understanding and appreciation of the visual arts. Known for its bold contemporary art program, the museum also houses a rich historical collection spanning Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the ancient Mediterranean. Rooted in a history of innovation and inclusion, the Nasher will continue to expand its impact—challenging dominant narratives, amplifying diverse voices, and inspiring new ways of seeing through future exhibitions, research, and community engagement.

#Nasher20 Activities

No upcoming events found
  • logo of the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation

    Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, https://mdbf.org/

  • logo for Durham Arts Council

    Durham Arts Council, https://durhamarts.org/

  • Sponsors and Friends of the Museum

    We are grateful to every individual, household, organization and institution who has supported the Nasher Museum of Art these past twenty years. We want to especially thank our friends and sponsors who helped make this year's 20th Anniversary Celebration possible.

    Sculpture Park Founder's Fund

    Nancy A. Nasher, J.D.’79, P’18, P’22 & David J. Haemisegger, P’18, P’22

    George and Phyllis Asch, P'87, P'91, GP'19, GP'22
    David and Carmen Durack, P'95, P'96
    Gerrit Lansing, Jr., A.B.'95 and Patricia H. Lansing
    Jesse Ormond Sanderson, Jr. and Robert Black
    Guy T. Solie, A.B.'67, Ph.D.'76, P'10 and Mindy S. Solie, B.S.'78, M.S.'81, P'10
    Tanya Traykovski, A.B.'86 and Carlo Bronzini-Vender

    This project was supported by the Durham Arts Council’s Annual Arts Fund and the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter