NC Museum of Art extends Escher exhibit

The N.C. Museum of Art will extend an exhibit of works by Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher another week because of strong demand.

“The Worlds of M.C. Escher: Nature, Science, and Imagination” opened Oct. 17 and was scheduled to close Jan. 17. It will now run through Jan. 24, with extended hours.

The exhibit of drawings, prints and woodcuts by the artist known for his optical illusions and mathematically inspired patterns has drawn more than 81,000 visitors since it opened, exceeding the museum’s expectations, said spokeswoman Emily Kowalski. The museum organized the exhibit, which director Lawrence J. Wheeler says has attracted people from all 50 states.

“We’re thrilled to keep this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition – the most comprehensive Escher exhibition presented in the United States – open an additional week to allow more time for our visitors to see the fantastic collection,” Wheeler said in a statement.

The Escher exhibit has been running concurrently with a traveling exhibition of Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Leicester, which features pages from a 500-year-old notebook written by the Italian artist and scientist. The da Vinci exhibit will close Jan. 17 as scheduled. For hours and ticket prices, go to ncartmuseum.org.

This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 11:27 AM with the headline "NC Museum of Art extends Escher exhibit."