The North Carolina Museum of Art Announces “Knowing the West”

Raleigh, N.C. — The North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA), a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), is pleased to share details of its upcoming exhibition “Knowing the West” on view May 2 – Aug. 9, 2026.

Organized by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, this exhibition reframes the American West not as a fixed place but as a shifting narrative shaped by countless makers, histories, and lived experiences. The show’s dazzling array of 19th- and early 20th-century objects and artwork—including paintings, basketry, textiles, pottery, sculpture, beadwork, saddles, and prints—encourages dialogue across media, uplifting historically marginalized perspectives and questioning long-standing hierarchies. Featuring works by Chiura Obata, Nellie Two Bear Gates, Grafton Tyler Brown, Elizabeth Conrad Hickox, and many more, “Knowing the West” embraces the multiplicity of artists in the region and compels reconsideration of what the West has meant, and continues to mean, to communities across generations.

“We are delighted to present an exhibition that expands notions of Western American art in such important ways,” said Museum Director Valerie Hillings. “As we enter a new era of the Museum’s strategic plan, we will continue prioritizing dynamic stories that help reimagine and enhance exhibition practices.”

A series of interactive elements within and surrounding the exhibition galleries encourages visitors to listen, reflect, and even contribute their own ideas. Throughout the NC-focused audio tour, community members, cultural leaders, and local artists consider five selected works, sharing personal stories and reflections. By centering North Carolina voices, such as Director of the North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission Quinn Godwin, the tour brings a distinctly local lens to a story that stretches across the country. At the exhibition’s welcome video and response station, a short video introduces the exhibition’s central question—What do you know about the American West?—before visitors are invited to write their own responses, adding their reflections to a growing collection from the Museum’s audiences. Lastly, North Carolina artist Dare Coulter will feature an exhibition-specific artwork in the galleries that draws attention to the ongoing presence and legacy of Black cowboy culture, which is an essential, often overlooked part of Western history.

A first look press preview for the exhibition will be held on Thursday, April 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.Artwork images for media use are available here (password: KTW).MEDIA CONTACT: Lizzie Newton | lizzie.newton@dncr.nc.gov

“Knowing the West”May 2 – Aug. 9, 2026East Building, Level B, Meymandi Exhibition Gallery

Ticketing: $20 Adults, free for Members, $17 Seniors age 65 and older, $12 Students (ages 7-22), free for children 6 and under

Featured Exhibition Programming

• Exhibition After Hours, Thursday, April 30
• Member Preview Day, Friday, May 1
• Spring Teacher Tuesday: Special Exhibition Access for Educators, Tuesday, May 12
• Western North Carolina Art and Craft Showcase, Saturday, May 23
• Teen Night 2026: Around the Campfire, Friday, June 12
• Community Day, Saturday, June 27
• Member Monday: “Knowing the West,” Monday, July 13
• Dom Flemons Presents the Bronze Buckaroo Film and Songster Show, Saturday, August 8

“Knowing the West” is organized by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, and co-curated by Mindy N. Besaw and Jami C. Powell with influence and input from a curatorial advisory council. In Raleigh additional support is made possible, in part, by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation, Inc.; Green Front Raleigh; Nancy and Ron McFarlane; Two Dots Studio; and the William R. Kenan Jr. Endowment for Educational Exhibitions. Research for this exhibition was made possible by Ann and Jim Goodnight/The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fund for Curatorial and Conservation Research and Travel.

About the North Carolina Museum of Art

The North Carolina Museum of Art’s collection spans more than 5,000 years, from antiquity to the present, making the institution one of the premier art museums in the South. The museum’s collection provides educational, aesthetic, intellectual and cultural experiences for the citizens of North Carolina and beyond. The 164-acre Museum Park showcases the connection between art and nature through site-specific works of environmental art. The museum offers changing special exhibitions, classes, lectures, family activities, films and concerts. The museum is located at 2110 Blue Ridge Rd. in Raleigh and is home to the People’s Collection. It is the art museum of the State of North Carolina, under the auspices of Gov. Josh Stein; an agency of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, guided by the direction of Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell; and led by Director Valerie Hillings. For more information please visit ncartmuseum.org.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina—its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility and strengthens community resiliency. For more information please visit dncr.nc.gov.

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