Ongoing—New York-based artist Iké Udé paid homage to Nollywood, the $3 billion film industry in his birthplace of Nigeria, by photographing its most famous celebrities. On view with garments and other items used in their creation, these portraits make bold statements about African identity. Pictured: A portrait of actress Genevieve Nnaji.
The museum shines a light on the myths and legends surrounding subjects living on the fringes of society in early modern Japan. Works on view reflect on the virtues of these misfits who rejected societal norms.
Visitors can experience five installations by Yayoi Kusama, who at 93 is still creating art in her native Tokyo. The show includes sculptures, an early painting, photographs and two of the artist’s ground-breaking Infinity Mirror Rooms. One of these, called Infinity Mirrored Room—My Heart is Dancing into the Universe (pictured), is lined with reflective surfaces […]
This triennial competition recognizes work that challenges traditional definitions of portraiture. Open to artists living and working in the U.S., this year’s contest received entries in a wide range of media, from painting and photography to sculpture and performance art. npg.si.edu
A selection of works from the museum’s collection illuminates Henri Matisse’s ability to speak volumes about his subjects with a few simple lines. Pen-and-ink drawings, aquatints and bronzes reveal the artist’s shift from classical style to a more fluid treatment of the body. artbma.org
An artist whose work focuses on the social history of plants, Beatrice Glow has turned her lens on tobacco and the repercussions of its trade. Digitally printed and embroidered silk textiles, 3D-printed objects and watercolors express both the decadent opulence and unsavory realities of the industry. artbma.org
Born in Pakistan and living in New York, Salman Toor upends tradition and outdated notions of power and sexuality in his work. This assemblage of 45 of his paintings and works on paper made between 2019 and 2022—some for this exhibit—weaves together motifs from historical works and 21st-century events.
The museum celebrates the late Washington-based abstractionist with an exhibit of his circular paintings, or tondos, created in 2021. Ranging from three to five feet in diameter, each starts with a beveled-wood panel on which the artist layers dense, vibrant pigments, sawdust and metal fragments to reveal a bold combination of colors and textures. Rail, […]
More than 80 pieces of couture, accessories and photographs on loan from the Palace of Monaco shed light on the glamorous wardrobe of Princess Grace and her longstanding collaboration with Marc Bohan, the one-time artistic director at House of Dior.
This exhibit displays drawings, paintings and sculptures by 43 seminal self-taught artists of the 20th century; it includes a painted work on cut-and-pieced sheet metal by David Butler (pictured). The creations—most recent or promised gifts from the Robson family—encourage viewers to see the world through the eyes of others. americanart.si.edu
This exhibit is the first to examine the life of Joanna Hiffernan, a model who was depicted in many early works by James McNeill Whistler and who played an integral role in his life. An impoverished Irish immigrant living in London, she and the artist had a five-year romance. Later, she served as Whistler’s manager […]
The gallery displays a selection of rare prints, engravings, etchings and woodcuts created in Northern Europe from 1450 to the 1600s. Originating in the region that now comprises Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands, the works on view are a testament to the creative masters of the period.
Twenty works explore the evolving role of indigenous artists in the North American Arctic. The exhibit traces the transition from the ornate, ritualistic and utilitarian objects crafted for many generations to present-day model kayaks and cribbage boards created for non-Native markets. artbma.org
Through January 29, 2023 This show explores various brush techniques Japanese artists applied in their depictions of birds over several centuries. On view are hanging scroll paintings, folding screens, ceramics and printed books; a dish by Ogata Kenzan (pictured) dates back to the 1700s. asia.si.edu
Curated by Rebecca Cross of Cross MacKenzie Gallery, this exhibit of powerful ceramic sculptures created through accumulation and repetition demonstrates the principle: “out of many, one.” Pieces by eight artists on view include Kate Roberts’ Gates to Nowhere (pictured), a hanging work made by dripping bits of unfired clay on fishing line.
This installation blurs the lines between real and imagnary. Sculptures by Georgia Saxelby (pictured) and paintings by Devan Shimoyama explore alternate realities in a post-pandemic world where fantasy and imagination are amplified.
More than two dozen works on paper by the French Fauvist artist celebrate the pomp and pageantry of British horse racing. Sketches of the famous Ascot course made by Dufy at a 1930 event inspired the vibrant watercolors on view.
Working in a range of media, seven Hamiltonian Artists Alumni mimic surfaces, spaces and objects, exploring the aesthetic possibilities of materials and textures.
In 2020, the museum acquired 40 works from the Souls Grown Deep Foundation—all created by Black artists who were seldom recognized for their contributions. Though many were made from recycled materials and leftover scraps of fabric, these sculptures, paintings, reliefs and quilts represent deep cultural traditions and outstanding artistic achievement. nga.gov
Past meets present in this immersive exhibit that juxtaposes futuristic digital imagery with two paintings from the museum’s permanent collection. Drawing on disparate influences, from video games to Baroque architecture, Monaghan’s work poses provocative questions about consumerism and today’s technology-driven society.
Rather than working in a vacuum, many artists seek feedback and criticism from their peers. Eight pairings of works on view shed light on how artists support each other outside the purview of patrons, curators and dealers. Paul Cadmus’ Night in Bologna (pictured) is part of the show.
This exhibit documents the buildings, parks and businesses that lined Washington’s historic promenade from the White House to the U.S. Capitol in the 19th century. Pictured: A depiction of President Garfield's inauguration as it appeared in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, 1881.
John Singer Sargent traveled extensively throughout Spain, capturing its landscapes, marine scenes, street life and architecture in his work. This exhibit assembles more than 120 of the artist’s oils, drawing and watercolors—including Camprodón, c.1892, pictured—that depict the wonders of Spain and its people. nga.gov
