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.
My dog is not happy with this cold weather.
January 24, 2026 at 2:30 PM
My dog is not happy with this cold weather.
Sunday in our nation’s capital.
January 18, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Sunday in our nation’s capital.
I’m so happy to see Leigh Raiford’s brilliant book, “When Home is a Photograph,” coming out in the Duke University Press series, “The Visual Arts of Africa and Its Diasporas,” which I co-edit with Dr. Kellie Jones.
January 17, 2026 at 2:10 PM
I’m so happy to see Leigh Raiford’s brilliant book, “When Home is a Photograph,” coming out in the Duke University Press series, “The Visual Arts of Africa and Its Diasporas,” which I co-edit with Dr. Kellie Jones.
“Nigerian Modernism” at Tate Modern is a breathtaking exhibition that details the artists and cultural figures working during much of the 20th century. The work is incredible, and the exhibition expertly curated.
January 15, 2026 at 10:23 AM
“Nigerian Modernism” at Tate Modern is a breathtaking exhibition that details the artists and cultural figures working during much of the 20th century. The work is incredible, and the exhibition expertly curated.
Artist formerly known, “The Cholmondeley sisters and their swaddled babies,” c.1600–1610. This is one of my favorite paintings at Tate Britain.
January 11, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Artist formerly known, “The Cholmondeley sisters and their swaddled babies,” c.1600–1610. This is one of my favorite paintings at Tate Britain.
I was out there as well (just happened to be driving by). There were not a lot of folks out there. Damn, that thing was tacky.
January 1, 2026 at 2:22 PM
I was out there as well (just happened to be driving by). There were not a lot of folks out there. Damn, that thing was tacky.
Bizarre and tacky projections on the Washington Monument.
January 1, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Bizarre and tacky projections on the Washington Monument.
Merry Christmas!!
December 25, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Merry Christmas!!
Bookshelf Residency: Feminist Press at ICA LA is a fantastic look at the venue’s 55 years of publishing. Some of the best known and most important feminist work in both fiction and non-fiction came out of this press. It’s great to learn more about its history.
December 14, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Bookshelf Residency: Feminist Press at ICA LA is a fantastic look at the venue’s 55 years of publishing. Some of the best known and most important feminist work in both fiction and non-fiction came out of this press. It’s great to learn more about its history.
How you park your VEVO bike when you don’t realize that you’re not the only person on the planet.
November 16, 2025 at 3:18 PM
How you park your VEVO bike when you don’t realize that you’re not the only person on the planet.
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.