A Romanov by birth, Natalie Paley escaped the tragic fate of her family to live a culturally rich life in France, and later, America as the darling of fashion designers, writers, editors and photographers. Through 335 newly acquired items—assembled alongside pieces from Hillwood’s permanent collection—a fascinating portrait of the woman as both muse and tastemaker […]
Its title alluding to periods of rising tension, this exhibit presents the work of four modern-day artists alongside pieces by 20th-century artists whose lives and art were impacted by tumultuous events of their time. Art by Josef Albers, Max Beckmann and others lend context to thought-provoking, 21st-century sculptures, photos, textiles and installations by alumni of […]
David A. Douglas’ large-scale works blend drawing, painting and photography to explore memory and place. Through contemplative landscapes and interior scenes glimpsed through windows and thresholds, the Northern Virginia-based artist encourages patrons to reflect on the passage of time and the natural world.
Recent works by the American-born artist include Rubber Pencil Devil (Hell House), a neon sculpture commissioned by Glenstone to showcase Da Corte‘s videos exploring humor, satire, violence and tenderness. Also on view, The Decorated Shed, which reimagines the miniature neighborhood featured on the TV show ”Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” set in a room swathed in colorful […]
Drawing on the National Portrait Gallery’s extensive early photography collection, this show traces the evolution of large-scale portraiture using the three popular mediums of the day: the upmarket daguerreotype, the mid-range ambrotype, and the far more common and affordable tintype.
Upending assumptions about the one-dimensionality of photography and prints, the museum shines a light on 20th- and 21st-century Japanese art that blurs the lines between mediums and conventions. Pieces on display by 17 experimental artists may be layered with plastic, foam, glue, tape or other materials.
Thirty watercolors created over the course of two centuries trace the medium’s evolution from a mode of documentation to an art form. Largely drawn from the Corcoran collection, the paintings depict iconic American scenes, from New England seascapes to the Grand Canyon.
Named “Narsha,” an archaic Korean word that means “to soar high,” this exhibit showcases the work of 31 Korean-American artists in a wide array of styles. Celebrating cultural traditions and the lived experience of Korean immigrants in the US, the show is presented by the Han-Mee Artists Association of Greater Washington to mark its 50th […]
This show honors the legacy of artist and activist Vivian Browne through paintings, prints and works on paper. Whether fighting for Black representation in New York museums or challenging the accepted parameters of abstraction and figuration through her work, she remains an admirable figure in 20th-century American art. phillipscollection.org
Photographs, ephemera and prints illuminate the historical hotels, motels, inns and taverns that have hosted visitors to Washington over the centuries. From famous landmarks to humble boarding houses, these accommodations speak to the capital city’s evolving identity.
Trained in classical Indo-Persian miniature painting, Shahzia Sikander adds a contemporary spin to the genre. This 10-minute film is a commentary on the legacy of British colonialism in Asia. Combining visuals from Chinese paper cut-outs to watercolor maps of the region, the film blends inked and digitally animated scenes, all set to an electronic beat […]
A coterie of artists sets up their easels around historic Easton for the country’s largest juried outdoor painting competition, now in its 20th year. The event will feature demonstrations, art sales, interactive workshops and competitions for participants of all levels along with entertainment and children’s programming.
This Baltimore gallery celebrates feline subjects with a show dedicated to the portrayal of cats in medieval manuscripts. Not only endearing pets, 15th-century cats also played deeply symbolic roles in literature and served as protectors that warded off pests.
From a life-size butter cow created on-site by Iowa’s Sarah Pratt to a pyramid of 700 glass jars of preserved fruits and vegetables by canning expert and fellow Iowan Rod Zeitler, the Renwick celebrates the artistry and crafts that play an integral role in state fairs nationwide. More than 240 objects on view date from […]
Marking The Textile Museum’s centennial, this exhibition examines the roles textiles have played over the centuries in celebrations, performances and religious ceremonies around the world. Pieces on view run the spectrum from festival robes to palace carpets.
This show chronicles how 19th-century European and American artists not only documented but also influenced the transformation of pristine environments into resources of industry. More than 50 works on paper—organized by themes of desert, forest, field, city and studio—were pulled from the collection of Baltimore native George A. Lucas (1824-1909).
This landmark show chronicles the pivotal role women artists played in what is presently the Netherlands and Flanders, Belgium, during the 17th and 18th centuries. The nearly 150 works on view—from paintings and prints to sculpture, embroidery and lace—are a testament to women’s participation in nearly all aspects of artistic culture of the era. However, […]
This mega-exhibition marking the Baltimore venue’s 30th anniversary focuses on alternate worlds by a coterie of self-taught artists. Among 130 creations shown are paintings and lithographs, ceramic subway scenes, handcrafted action figures, chainsaw-carved minotaurs and hand-painted sci-fi galaxies.
Tokyo-born Tawny Chatmon elevates cultural truths and confronts racist myths through her photography-based art. Her large-scale photographs are embellished with digital techniques and handmade elements that include embroidered and mosaic-like patterns.
This exhibition displays recent work by four DMV-based recipients of Anonymous Was a Woman (AWAW) grants. The 25-year-old program supporting mid-career female artists throughout the U.S. takes its name from a Virginia Woolf essay underscoring challenges faced by creative women. The Kreeger show highlights 26 works by Jae Ko, linn meyers, Joyce J. Scott and […]
October 18 to March 1, 2026 –This exhibit offers visitors a rare opportunity to discover modern and contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, dating from the late 19th century to the present. More than 200 works by 130 artists illustrate the diverse and distinct visual iconographies of Indigenous Australia, which is made up of […]
The museum reexamines the work and life of Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma” Moses (1860–1961), the self-taught artist who was propelled to fame after starting to paint in her late 70s. The 88 works on view illuminate lesser-known aspects of Moses’ experience and reconcile the roles she played—from mother of five and dairy farmer in post-Reconstructionist […]
In the most comprehensive unveiling of former Charm City resident Amy Sherald’s work to date, the BMA presents approximately 40 of her portraits, from rarely seen examples to iconic portrayals of Michelle Obama and Breonna Taylor. The ticketed show focuses on Sherald’s experimentation with the conventions of portraiture and her ability to tell stories through […]
A permanent exhibit showcases some 3,000 of the museum’s 500,000 historical artifacts. Find architectural models by I.M. Pei and Frank Gehry, an antique blueprint machine, 1960s dollhouses, building fragments from the Carnegie Mansion and more. Items on display will be regularly rotated.
In 2021, family of the late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-Hee donated his vast art collection to the Republic of Korea. Some 200 items from the endowment are on display in the debut of this traveling exhibit. Spanning 1,500 years, objects range from ancient Buddhist sculpture to Joseon dynasty furnishings and bold, 20th-century paintings.
The Phillips brings together some 75 paintings, prints, sculptures and mixed-media pieces spanning more than a century to celebrate and study the beauty and complexity of the American experience through the lens of visual art. Coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the U.S., the show reflects on the nation’s ever-changing culture and identity.
Since the late 1960s, immersive, large-scale artworks have blurred traditional boundaries. This exhibit traces the evolution of installation art, displaying early works such as Sam Gilliam’s 1969 Light Depth (pictured) along with those of contemporary artists such as Mika Rottenberg and Spencer Finch.
An exhibit of more than 130 works on loan from the collection of music-industry power couple Alicia Keys and Kasseem Dean (aka Swizz Beatz) shines a light on 40-plus Black artists from Africa, Europe, the U.S. and the Caribbean. Pictured: A work by Amy Sherald.
Every year, local design teams partner with Washington Design Center showrooms to create seasonal vignettes and tablescapes composed with furniture, fabrics and finery sourced at the center. Proceeds benefit Children's National Hospital. At press time, this year's participants included Amoda Decor; Barbara Noguera Interiors; Charles C. Almonte, AIA ASID; David Anthony Chenault, Drysdale Design Associates; […]
The daughter of a silent-film star, the late Ruth Orkin is remembered for her postwar photographs of confident women in public and private spaces. Twenty-one striking images on view range from Hollywood glamour shots to depictions of women in classrooms, parks and homes.
Forty fine-arts and antiques dealers from the U.S. and Europe converge for this annual expo, now in its 71st year. Lectures, panel discussions and a jazz night are part of the mix.
This exhibit showcases several videos by peter campus, a New York artist long considered a new-media pioneer. Along with one of his iconic 1970s works, The Phillips unveils new videos inspired by the coastline near the artist’s Long Island home.
This immersive video installation dives deep into multi-media artist Clifford Ross’ ongoing fascination with the vast, awe-inspiring ocean through computer-generated media. Installed on a 23-foot-high screen in the West Building’s Rotunda, the work prompts viewers to reflect on the natural world and their own place in it.
Painter, printmaker and botanist Ilana Manolson celebrates species often dismissed as weeds, revealing their vitality, beauty and the essential roles they play within the ecosystems we share. From her luminous landscapes to her depictions of the intricate veins of leaves, the Canadian-born artist exposes unseen forces connecting all living things.
Marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the gallery celebrates significant achievements in American art over the past century. Among the artists represented, the show includes works by Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Ruth Asawa and Cindy Sherman.
The largest solo show SAAM has ever commissioned, “Mammoth” will transform a suite of galleries into a series of immersive environments. Combining sculpture, video and thousands of found objects, the exhibition draws on artist Nick Cave’s childhood in Missouri, where his grandparents were farmers and his grandmother was a quilter. As curator Sarah Newman remarks, […]
The NGA celebrates Mary Cassatt on the 100th anniversary of her death in 1926. The only American and one of three women who participated in the Impressionist movement, she spent most of her life in France. This display of some 40 paintings and works on paper document Cassatt’s creative process.
Hillwood presents its dazzling collection of 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century timepieces, displayed alongside historic and contemporary loans in an exhibit that chronicles the history of horology and watch-making. Visitors will discover how changing clock and watch styles, from rococo to Neoclassical, were in sync with trends in interior design.
Now in its 49th year, this expo will showcase the creations of 400 artists working in ceramics, glass, jewelry, metalworking, printmaking, clothing, furniture and basketry. Visitors can enjoy artist talks, demonstrations and hands-on activities.
A dazzling selection of saddle blankets, horse covers and other textiles dating back 1,300 years illustrates the vital role horses have played in Asian civilizations.
The museum shines a light on abstract work by notable 20th- and 21st-century female artists. More than 70 pieces on display in an array of media explore themes of representation, identity and power.
Three exhibitions capture the enduring influence of Henri Matisse. In “To See This Light Again,” works by the 20th-century French icon and Maryland painter Louis Fratino are juxtaposed, creating a dialogue between figural studies. “Matisse and Martinique” highlights how the Caribbean influenced the artist’s work, and “Matisse in Vence” examines the mural he created for […]
“Miró and the United States” reflects on the creative transatlantic symbiosis that occurred among Spanish artist Joan Miró (1893 to 1983) and his American artistic contemporaries, including Alexander Calder, Lee Krasner, Jackson Pollock and Helen Frankenthaler, during the post-war period from the 1940s to the 1960s.
A retrospective on the career of late New York artist Shirley Gorelick centers on three large-scale figure paintings along with more than 30 related paintings, drawings and prints that embody her bold, realist style.
An installation by conceptual artist Rachel Lee Hovnanian invites viewers to surrender their smartphones and immerse themselves in the BMA’s Spring House, which she has transformed into a natural oasis. She created the escape in hopes that it allows visitors “to rediscover how it feels to be fully present.”
A pair of paintings shown side by side illustrate how Hiroshi Senju and Bingyi reimagine their cultures’ rich artistic traditions. The former applies modern techniques to traditional Japanese methods, while the latter draws on historic Chinese ink painting in his approach. Though dramatically different, both pieces celebrate the beauty and power of water.
More than 100 works on paper represent the American experience through ruminations on the country’s landscape, people and concepts of freedom. The exhibit includes photographs by Carleton Watkins, Dorothea Lange and Carrie Mae Weems; prints by Thomas Hart Benton, Roy Lichtenstein and Rupert García; and drawings by Thomas Moran, John Wilson and Tonita Peña.
Honoring the United States’ 250th birthday, this exhibit documents historic scenes that have unfolded at many of Washington’s most notable landmarks. In addition to mainstream imagery, depictions of laborers, activists and artists across generations add a new perspective to history.
Expressing himself through moving images, sound, poetry and photography, Native American artist Sky Hopinka forges powerful ties between language and landscape. Videos (including one of his grandmother), photos and large-scale calligrams on display present a nuanced understanding of place and the contemporary Indigenous experience.
This exhibit explores the history and beauty of paintings made for Hindu kings in India’s northern Pahari region between the 1620s and 1830s. A study of 48 works on view, ranging in style from naturalistic to abstract, sheds light on their political, cultural and religious significance.
A trip to South Africa inspired Douriean Fletcher to design jewelry as a way to explore her identity and cultural heritage. Known for dramatic pieces made from natural materials, the California native has crafted jewelry worn by Queen Ramonda and the Dora Milaje in the Black Panther films. The Walters showcases these among many more […]
This annual self-guided tour gives attendees the opportunity to step inside some of the impressive homes and gardens in one of DC’s most charming and historic neighborhoods. A Parish tea at St. John’s Episcopal Church follows.
The Smithsonian Craft Show returns to the National Building Museum, filling its Great Hall with an array of collectibles from April 23rd to 26th. Now in its 44th year, the juried event spotlights more than 120 artisans representing varied disciplines, from basketry, ceramics and decorative fiber to furniture, glass, mixed-media and wearable art. Ceramicist Wayne Higby […]
An iconic 1857 panorama of Niagara Falls by landscape painter Frederic Edwin Church anchors a group of 20 works depicting the natural wonder. From historic Native paintings to contemporary photography, the collection homes in on the many symbols and histories associated with the world-famous falls and how these notions have evolved over centuries.
Displaying the work of 120 artists and artisans, this juried show features ceramics, painting and printmaking, furniture, mixed media, apparel, sculpture, woodworking and more. Live music rounds out the action.
More than 200 artists from across the country display their work in this juried show, now in its 35th year.
Drawn from Hillwood’s vast collections, this exhibit celebrates the artistry, craftsmanship and cultural importance of textiles from the 17th century to today. Casting a wide net, it unveils fabrics ranging from antique lace to embroidery and fashionable silks—and includes pieces from the personal wardrobe of Hillwood’s own Marjorie Merriweather Post.
