Art is at the heart of Bell Hall

When Steven D. Bell Hall was conceptualized, it was designed to answer the call for more access to Carolina business education.

But its goal wasn’t just to be a place where the next generation of business leaders were taught — it would also be a place to foster collaboration, spark creativity and invite meaningful conversations.

Art was one of the key pieces to that puzzle.

It’s a topic especially close to Dean Mary Margaret Frank’s (BSBA ’92, MAC ’92, PhD ’99) heart, who started as an art history major at Carolina before switching to business.

“Art prompts reflection, which every good leader needs to do,” she says. “It sparks curiosity, an innately human trait, and it helps students feel connected to each another.”

When it came time in the planning process to choose the artwork to feature inside Bell Hall, the overarching goal was to reflect the dynamic energy, enthusiasm and creativity of the community and create an environment that inspired and engaged students, staff, faculty and visitors alike. Rebecca Naples, assistant dean of donor engagement and advancement services, led the effort by coordinating with artists, museums and vendors for a year to curate and install the collection.

The 30 works selected each bring a distinct feel to the spaces they are featured in, yet together they underscore the central role of the arts in the Carolina experience.

The Johnson Collection

Bell Hall exhibits selections on loan from The Johnson Collection, a breadth of work that illuminates the rich history and cultures of the American South. The Johnson Collection is part of The Johnson Group, led by George (Geordy) Dean Johnson III (MBA ’13), the company’s chief executive officer.

With holdings from the late eighteenth century to the present day, the collection works to advance interest in the role that the art of the South plays in the larger context of American art.

The selection chosen for UNC Kenan-Flagler, titled, “Art in Exchange: North Carolina Artworks in The Johnson Collection,” provides a window into the network of cultural exchange through North Carolina art.

It features luminaries like North Carolina native Romare Bearden, known for his vibrant collages combining photography, paint and other media to convey emotion.

The collection also features artists connected to Black Mountain College, a pioneering institution in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains that shaped mid-century modernism. These works, characterized by clean lines and simplicity, highlight the interplay between form and function — a nod to innovation and creativity that resonates across the building.

Megan Rooney’s “Stand Up Sky”

If you’ve spent any time inside Bell Hall, Megan Rooney’s “Stand Up Sky” is hard to miss.

Thanks to the generosity of John Townsend (BSBA ’77, MBA ’82), the painting hangs above the dining area of the Tom Kenan Café as an immersive, energetic focal point. Spanning almost 23 feet, it was installed with the help of the Ackland Art Museum over the course of a few days.

Rooney, a London-based artist, painted “Stand Up Sky” in 2021 with the mixed-media technique of acrylic and oil stick on canvas. Her work stands out for its eclectic fusion of vibrant colors, abstract forms and tactile materials. It has been exhibited in galleries and institutions in the U.S. and Europe, earning recognition for its thought-provoking nature and aesthetic appeal.

Ben Leone’s “The Orchid (and the I-Beam)”

Ben Leone’s (BA ’15) “The Orchid (and the I-Beam)” has already become a sought-after backdrop for photos at Bell Hall. Which is fitting, because the sculpture was conceived specifically for the space.

Made possible through the vision and generosity of Tom Kenan (BA ’59), “The Orchid (and the I-Beam)” was constructed from cast aluminum and stainless steel, juxtaposing industrial materials with the graceful form of an orchid — a theme central to Leone’s work. Its base is concealed below the finished landscape, allowing the sculpture to appear as though it naturally emerges from its surroundings.

The piece is intended to evolve with the environment, developing its own history as generations of students, faculty, alumni and visitors encounter it.

“The Orchid (and the I-Beam)” was dedicated in April 2026. Reflecting on the commission during the ceremony, “Bell Hall was always meant to be more than just a building,” Leone said. “I’m so honored to have made an impact on a community and a university that had such a great impact on my life.”

Photo of Bell Hall is by Bruce Damonte.

See the art in action.