By Deanna Martino

Ellsworth Kelly: Panel Paintings 2004–2009

Through September 22

phillipscollection.org

This exhibition at THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION presents seven large-scale, multi-panel works featuring a spectrum of colors and geometric forms by Ellsworth Kelly. Kelly is known for his monochromatic paintings and flat, almost two-dimensional sculptures, which have dominated his 60-year career.

Bice Lazzari: Signature Line

Through September 22

nmwa.org

Bice Lazzari, a mid-20th-century Italian abstract painter, is known for works composed of rows of dots, dashes and irregular shapes on a monochromatic background. Twenty-five of Lazzari’s drawings and paintings are on display in the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS.

American People, Black Light: Faith Ringgold’s Paintings of the 1960s

Through November 10

nmwa.org

In the 1960s, Faith Ringgold was working on two sets of paintings in response to the Civil Rights and feminist movements. The first, “American People,” groups different types of people closely together to reflect interracial tension that Ringgold observed and experienced. The second, “Black Light,” features mask-like faces that reflect Ringgold’s interest in African art and design. Forty-five paintings from both collections are on display in the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS.

Mr. TIME: Portraits by Boris Chaliapin

Through January 5, 2014

npg.si.edu

On view at THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY are 26 portraits by the late artist Boris Chaliapin, most of which appeared on Time magazine’s cover during his 28-year career. Chaliapin created 413 covers for the publication, which relied on the artist for his record speed; he completed portraits in as little as 12 hours, earning him the nickname Mr. TIME.

Green Schools

Through January 5, 2014

nbm.org

This exhibition at the NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM focuses on the struggle to provide students, faculty and staff with a safe and healthy place to learn and work—in buildings that conserve energy and water while remaining economically feasible to build. The show explores existing structures such as Sprout Space, a green classroom developed by the architectural firm Perkins+Will, as well as design concepts. 

In the Tower: Kerry James Marshall

June 28 to December 7

nga.gov

American artist Kerry James Marshall explores African American history and its effects on contemporary culture. His first solo exhibit in DC, this show at the NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART includes 10 paintings and 20 works on paper by the Chicago-based artist. 

A Democracy of Images: Photographs from the Smithsonian American Art Museum

June 28 to January 5, 2014

americanart.si.edu 

This exhibit at the SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM traces the evolution of photography from a method of documentation into an art form. It spotlights photos, daguerreotypes, tintypes and albums, organized into four major themes: American Characters, Spiritual Frontier, America Inhabited and Imagination at Work. Each section features early examples of the genre alongside contemporary work. 

Ellen Harvey: The Alien’s Guide to the Ruins of Washington, D.C.

July 3 to October 6

corcoran.org

This exhibit by Brooklyn-based artist Ellen Harvey takes visitors on a fictional tour of Washington through the eyes of alien visitors who explore its Neoclassical ruins long after human civilization has come to an end. Spread throughout the CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART are reconstructions and interpretations of landmarks such as the White House, the World War II Memorial and the U.S. Capitol; other installations examine the rise of Classical style worldwide. 

Site Unseen. Gregory Vershbow

July 6 to September 8

thewalters.org

This exhibit at THE WALTERS ART MUSEUM offers visitors a “behind the scenes” peek at the world of artifact display. Gregory Vershbow has photographed art objects from different eras, taken as they are protected in storage facilities, conservation labs and monuments under construction. These often surprising juxtapositions invite viewers to see historic works in an entirely new light. 

Plein-Air Easton!

July 15 to 21

pleinaireaston.com

Dozens of artists from across the country come to this competition and festival in EASTON, Maryland, to showcase this unique style of painting: en plein air. Instead of creating art in their studios, the artists paint landscapes, buildings and still lifes in their natural setting as visitors observe. 

Artscape

July 19 to 21

artscape.org

This three-day juried arts festival in downtown Baltimore will feature more than 150 fine artists, fashion designers and craftspeople. Concerts, artist demonstrations and food stalls round out the action.  

Beach and Bay Cottage Tour

July 24 to 25

beachandbaycottagetour.com

Ten homes from NORTH BETHANY to FENWICK ISLAND are featured on this tour, representing a variety of architecture and design styles in seaside homes. Proceeds benefit the Friends of South Coastal Library.  

The Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection: 50 Works for 50 States

July 27 to October 20

vmfa.state.va.us

Beginning in 1962, New York-based Dorothy and Herbert Vogel started collecting contemporary works of art. A librarian and a postal worker, respectively, the couple dedicated one of their salaries to buying art and in a few decades amassed a collection of thousands of pieces. The Vogels have distributed 50 pieces of art to one museum in every state. In this exhibit, the VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS displays the 50 

donations it received in 2008.

Baltimore Summer Antiques Show

August 22 to 25

baltimoresummerantiques.com

The 33rd annual Baltimore Summer Antiques Show returns to the BALTIMORE CONVENTION CENTER with more than 200,000 items on display from all over the world. Guests may enjoy a free public lecture series headlined by exhibiting dealers and industry experts as well as a display of rare books. 

Max Weber: Bringing Paris to New York

Through June 23

artbma.org

The work of American Modernist painter Max Weber will be on display at the BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART in an exhibit featuring nearly 40 paintings, prints and drawings that exemplify the artist’s formative years in Paris, where he began exploring the styles of Cubism and Futurism. 

Pictures in the Parlor

Through June 30

americanart.si.edu

This exhibit at the SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM features 55 decorative images from the mid-19th through the early 20th centuries that were once used in domestic interiors. The photographs, painted tintypes and folios from a Victorian collage album reflect the aesthetics, status and history of their owners. 

Thomas Day: Master Craftsman and Free Man of Color

Through July 28

americanart.si.edu

The RENWICK GALLERY of the Smithsonian American Art Museum will explore the career of Thomas Day, a free African American furniture designer who owned one of North Carolina’s most successful cabinet shops prior to the Civil War. The exhibit will feature 36 pieces produced in Day’s shop from 1830 to 1860.

Portraiture Now: Drawing on the Edge

Through August 18
npg.si.edu

Part of the NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY’s “Portraiture Now” series, this exhibit features the work of six artists, including Mequitta Ahuja, Ben Durham and Rob Matthews, who explore the use of watercolor, charcoal, digital video and mixed-media painting in portraiture. Their work seeks to expand the definition of a portrait beyond just a drawing. 

Over, Under, Next: 

Experiments in Mixed Media, 1943—Present

Through September 8

hirshhorn.si.edu

Modern and contemporary artists challenge traditional media in this exhibit at the HIRSHHORN MUSEUM. The show features 100 examples of collage and assemblage in which artists made use of uncommon materials such as butterfly wings, glass shards, doll parts, colored sand, jigsaw puzzle pieces and more. 

Ellsworth Kelly: Colored Paper Images

Through December 1

nga.gov

This exhibition on view at the NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART features 23 prints by abstract artist Ellsworth Kelly, best known for his crisp, clean lines, hard-edged shapes and monochromes. The collection of molded,  handmade paper images showcases the artist’s softer side with rich textures, soft edges and bleeding colors. 

Diaghilev and the Ballets Russes, 1909-1929: When Art Danced with Music 

Through September 2

nga.gov

The Ballets Russes, one of the most innovative dance companies of the 20th century, changed the landscape of performing arts by collaborating with artists, composers, choreographers and designers. This exhibit at the national gallery of art showcases costumes, set designs, paintings and photographs of the group founded by Russian impresario Serge Diaghilev.

Georges Braque and the Cubist Still Life, 1928-1945

Through September 1

phillipscollection.org

Along with Pablo Picasso, French painter and sculptor Georges Braque developed the avant-garde art style known as Cubism. This exhibit at THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION features 40 still-life paintings that explore Braque’s journey through the genre, from small, intimate scenes to vibrant, large-scale canvases.

Western Loudoun Artists Studio Tour

June 22 and 23

wlast.org

Visit the studios of more than 50 painters, jewelers, sculptors, photographers and more during the eighth annual Artists Studio Tour in historic LOUDOUN COUNTY. Talk with the artists, watch them in action, shop and participate in hands-on activities on this self-guided tour. 

Sculpture on The Grounds, 2011 Invitational

Through July 2013
kreegermuseum.org

The Washington Sculptors Group collaborates for the second time with THE KREEGER MUSEUM for their Sculpture on the Grounds exhibit, which showcases Washington artists and organizations. The exhibit is comprised of two new pieces by Martha Jackson-Jarvis and Dalya Luttwak: a site-specific installation by Luttwak titled When Nature Takes Over; and a sculpture by Jackson-Jarvis titled Markings.

Nam June Paik: Global Visionary

Through August 11, 2013

americanart.si.edu

The SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM showcases the work of the late Korean-born artist Nam June Paik. This exhibit, including almost 70 pieces of art and 120 items from the artist's archive, traces his personal development and examines his accomplishments in the age of global media culture. 

Palaces for the People: Guastavino and America’s Great Public Spaces

Through January 20, 2014

nbm.org

The NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM will feature the work of visionary designer and architect Rafael Guastavino, best known for his vaulted tile ceilings in landmark buildings such as the U.S. Supreme Court and Grand Central Terminal in New York. This exhibit will include historic drawings, photographs and objects highlighting Guastavino’s art, engineering and personal journey from Spanish immigrant to visionary architect who revolutionized the design and construction of some of the nation’s most iconic spaces. 

Play Work Build
Ongoing
nbm.org

Visitors of all ages will learn about architecture and building design in this new exhibition at the NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM. It combines the museum’s Architectural Toy Collection with a hands-on block play area and digital components to stimulate the imaginations of kids and adults and open their minds to the vast array of possibilities waiting in the world of architecture.