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Next Exhibit
Oct. 23-Jan. 4, 2026
Human Landscapes 

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) and The Eric Kelly Museum is proud to announce a major exhibition celebrating the extraordinary work of NCCU alumnus Dr. Eric A.W. Kelly III, founder of the Kelly Worldwide advertising and marketing Agency and Director of Eric Kelly III Museum and one of the most transformative abstract expressive artists of our time. Running from October 23, 2025, through January 4, 2026, the exhibition, Human Landscapes: The Mystery of the mark, presents a groundbreaking fusion of color, sound, and emotional storytelling through more than 50 paintings spanning seven decades of artistic mastery. In this ground breaking show Dr. Kelly will be showing some of hie early masterpieces from his days at NCCU leading up to his present style call neo-abstract expressive.

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Dr. Eric Kelly III’s visionary style—marked by bold black lines, synesthetic color experiences, and deeply expressive portraiture—has shaped a new visual language that bridges abstraction and identity. A 1982 graduate of NCCU’s Visual Communications program and the university’s first Art Scholarship recipient, Dr. Kelly returns to his alma mater to debut a multisensory journey that explores the human condition through dynamic compositions, vivid colors, original music scores and sharing his new movie documentary “Human Landscapes” during the exhibition .

 

Opening Reception

Join us on Wednesday, October 23, 2025, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the NCCU Art Museum for an immersive opening celebration. Guests will have the rare opportunity to meet Dr. Kelly, view interactive light and sound installations, and experience a live screening of his new documentary, Human Landscapes.

This event is free and open to the public.

Exhibition Details

Dates: October 23, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Location: NCCU Art Museum, 580 E. Lawson St., Durham, NC 27707
Contact: 919-560-7048 or bfaison3@nccu.edu

About Dr. Eric A.W. Kelly III

 

 

Born in Washington, DC and a native of Durham, North Carolina, and a cultural force in the world of contemporary art, Dr. Eric A.W. Kelly III has created over 10,000 works blending music, movement, and color to capture emotional landscapes. He is a synesthetic painter who hears color and sees sound, transforming every canvas into a vibrant symphony of experience. Founder of the Eric Kelly III Museum—one of the only institutions in the world dedicated solely to the work of a living Black abstract artist—Dr. Kelly is also a two-time Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and the visionary behind the Black Business Expo USA a 20 black Expo, The Black Business Network and Black Business Olympics, a show the broadcast to over 200 countries globally.  From global collectors to local communities, his work resonates as a spiritual offering, a call for peace, and an invitation to witness emotion through the lens of genius.

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We invite the entire NCCU community and the public to witness this historic exhibition and be moved by the transformative power of art through the eyes of Dr. Eric Kelly III.

For more information, please visit the NCCU Art Museum or contact us at 919-560-7048.
To explore the artist’s work, visit www.erickellymuseum.org.

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Movie Premiere Announcement 🎬

At the opening of Human Landscapes: The Mystery of the Mark, we are proud to present the world premiere screening of the film Human Landscapes, The Mystery of the Mark.

📍 NCCU Art Museum, 580 E. Lawson St., Durham, NC 27707
📅 Thursday, October 23, 2025
🕔 Premiere begins at 5:00 PM

Join us for an unforgettable evening where art, film, and imagination unite.

RSVP: erickellymuseum@gmail.com | Call/Text: 919-308-9090

Museum Shows Timeline

  • Eric Kelly Museum

  • Private Exhibitions At The Eric Kelly III Museum, Kelly Gallery Art  and Collectors Exhibitions

  •  Eric Kelly lll Museum Exhibitions

  • North Carolina Central University (NCCU) is proud to announce a major exhibition celebrating the extraordinary work of NCCU alumnus Dr. Eric A.W. Kelly III, founder of the Kelly Worldwide advertising and marketing Agency and Director of Eric Kelly III Museum and one of the most transformative abstract expressive artists of our time. Running from October 23, 2025, through January 4, 2026, the exhibition, Human Landscapes: The Mystery of the mark!

  • ​

  • (High School To College 1981)

  •  

  • (Art Anthology 1982),

  •  

  •   (Women Of Color 1982) (WE 1983 )

  •  

  • ,(Black Wall street 1984),

  • 10 Year Museum Celebration 1992

  •  (Lines, Colors, Shapes 1999)

  • (An Artist In Perspective 1994),

  •  (The High School Years 1993),

  • (THE ART OF ART1993),

  •  (Sports Rage 1994)

  • , (Dance, Dance, Dance 1985)

  • (Wind Motions Dance 1996),

  •  (Black and White Pencil Edition 1996)

  •  (Kwanza 1997)

  •  (Eric Kelly THE THIRD Self Portrait 1997)

  • , 20 Year Museum Anniversary 2002

  •  ( Man In The Mirror 2005)

  • ,  (WHAT, WHAT, WHAT! 2003),

  •  (Metamorphosis Michael Jackson 2005)

  • , (Black Women History 2005)

  •  (Deltas Celebration 2006)

  •  (Black Men of History 2007)

  •  (Basketball Jones 2007),

  • ( Poet and Politicians 2008),

  •  30 Year Museum Anniversary 2012

  •  (FACES 2014),

  •  (Eric Kelly Pastel Abstract 2015),

  •  (Lady Sings 2019),

  • (Human Landscapes 2020)

  • (Wine & Pastels 2020)

  • , (Self-Portrait 2020),

  •  (We 2020),

  • (Retrospective 2020).

  • Art Exhibits

  • Hayti Heritage Center 10 Year Anniversary,

  •  Hayti Heritage Center 20 Year anniversary,

  • Hayti Heritage Center 30 Year Anniversary,

  • Hayti Heritage Center 40 Year Anniversary, 

​

  • Playground Gallery Durham (Human Landscapes 2015)

  • NCCU Museum (Paintings Now and Forever 2004),

  • WD Hill Gallery (The Face of Change 2001)

  • Mutual Community Bank (A Portrait of a President 1986),

  •   Lydia Merrick Moore  Gallery( Obama 2006),

  •  North Carolina Central University Art Museum(Then 2010)

  •  The Madame Dee Estate (Behind the Brush 2011) Los Angeles,

  • Brinkley Estate, Atlanta Ga(Crossing the Line 1988)

  • , Jefferson County Commission Gallery (Faces 1978) Birmingham Alabama,

  • North Carolina Central University (Black History Month 1982),

  •  The Know Book Store (Abstract Nation 1972)

  •  Coggins Pontiac Mazda Showroom (Abstract Madness 1984)

  •  Blue Coffee Gallery (Barack Obama 2009),

  •  The Talk of the Town Gallery (The Man in the Mirror, Michael Jackson 2011)

  • , Mechanics and Farmers Bank (Black Wall Street 1989)

  • Few Gardens Gallery(Family Matters 1997)

  • Durham Omni Hotel Gallery (History A Coming 1975)

  •  Sheraton Imperial Hotel ( Portraits Of A Man 2004)

  • Raleigh NC Civic Center (Barack, The Face Of Change 2013)

  • Hayti Heritage Center (Black History Month 2018)

  •  

  • Places and Spaces 2019) (Dancing Winds) BN Duke

  • Books Art Anthology, Barack Obama, the Face of Change. Three Poetry CDs Other books, On a 2000 Hot, Hot Day,

  • 2015 Twisting in the Rain and Affirmations and Thoughts for Life.

  •  TV Show credits:  Approach The Bench,

  • The Man on The Spot and

  •  Games People Play sports Show.

  • The Black Business EXPO show

  • Eric Kelly Museum

  • Private Exhibitions At The Eric Kelly III Museum, Kelly Gallery Art  and Collectors Exhibitions

  •  Eric Kelly THE THIRD Museum Exhibitions

  • (High School To College 1981)

  •  

  • (Art Anthology 1982),

  •  

  •   (Women Of Color 1982) (WE 1983 )

  •  

  • ,(Black Wall street 1984),

  • (10 Year Museum Celebration 1992),

  •  (Lines , Colors Shapes 1999)

  • (An Artist In Perspective 1994),

  •  (The High School Years 1993),

  • (THE ART OF ART1993),

  •  (Sports Rage 1994)

  • , (Dance, Dance, Dance 1985)

  • (Wind Motions Dance 1996),

  •  (Black and White Pencil Edition 1996)

  •  (Kwanza 1997)

  •  (Eric Kelly THE THIRD Self Portrait 1997)

  • , (20 Year Museum Anniversary 2002),

  •  ( Man In The Mirror 2005)

  • ,  (WHAT, WHAT, WHAT! 2003),

  •  (Metamorphosis Michael Jackson 2005)

  • , (Black Women History 2005)

  •  (Deltas Celebration 2006)

  •  (Black Men of History 2007)

  •  (Basketball Jones 2007),

  • ( Poet and Politicians 2008),

  •  (30 Year Museum Anniversary 2012),

  •  (FACES 2014),

  •  (Eric Kelly Pastel Abstract 2015),

  •  (Lady Sings 2019),

  • (Human Landscapes 2020)

  • (Wine & Pastels 2020)

  • , (Self-Portrait 2020),

  •  (We 2020),

  • (Retrospective 2020).

  • Art Exhibits

  • Hayti Heritage Center 10 Year Anniversary,

  •  Hayti Heritage Center 20 Year anniversary,

  • Hayti Heritage Center 30 Year Anniversary,

  • Hayti Heritage Center 40 Year Anniversary, 

  • Playground Gallery Durham (Human Landscapes 2015)

  • NCCU Museum (Paintings Now and Forever 2004),

  • WD Hill Gallery (The Face of Change 2001)

  • Mutual Community Bank (A Portrait of a President 1986),

  •   Lydia Meerick Moore  Gallery( Obama 2006),

  •  North Carolina Central University Art Museum(Then 2010)

  •  The Madame Dee Estate (Behind the Brush 2011) Los Angeles,

  • Brinkley Estate, Atlanta Ga(Crossing the Line 1988)

  • , Jefferson County Commission Gallery (Faces 1978) Birmingham Alabama,

  • North Carolina Central University (Black History Month 1982),

  •  The Know Book Store (Abstract Nation 1972)

  • , Coggins Pontiac Mazda Showroom (Abstract Madness 1984)

  •  Blue Coffee Gallery (Barack Obama 2009),

  •  The Talk of the Town Gallery (The Man in the Mirror, Michael Jackson 2011)

  • , Mechanics and Farmers Bank (Black Wall Street 1989)

  • Few Gardens Gallery(Family Matters 1997)

  • Durham Omni Hotel Gallery (History A Coming 1975)

  •  Sheraton Imperial Hotel ( Portraits Of A Man 2004)

  • Raleigh NC Civic Center (Barack, The Face Of Change 2013)

  • Hayti Heritage Center (Black History Month 2018) (

  • Places and Spaces 2019) (Dancing Winds) BN Duke

  • Books Art Anthology, Barack Obama, the Face of Change. Three Poetry CDs Other books, On a 2000 Hot, Hot Day,

40 Year Museum Anniversary 2022

  • 2022 Comming soon!

  • ​

  • 2015 Twisting in the Rain and Affirmations and Thoughts for Life.

  •  TV Show credits:  Approach The Bench,

  • The Man on The Spot and

  •  Games People Play sports Show.

  • The Black Business EXPO show

©Eric Kelly Museum Durham  NC 27701 III 919-308-9090 USA

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