Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery

A person stands on a balcony and looks up at an artwork made of golden cast arms.
Welcome to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery

Explore the sweep of the American imagination across four centuries at the nation's flagship museum for American art and craft. Dive into inspiring artworks, the reimagined collection, and an array of special exhibitions including Glenn Kaino: Bridge. Experience our offerings both online and in person at our two locations, including national educational programs, innovative research, video interviews with artists, virtual artist studio tours, lectures, audio guides, and more. Admission is always free.

Featured Exhibitions

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Painting of a man lying on the floor. He is looking away from the viewer.
Pictures of Belonging: Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi, and Miné Okubo
November 15, 2024 – August 17, 2025
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Pictures of Belonging celebrates three trailblazing Japanese American women artists and asserts their rightful place in American art.
Sculpture of a person completely covered with multiple colorful, intricate patterns standing against a neutral background.
The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture
November 8, 2024–September 14, 2025
Smithsonian American Art Museum
SAAM's groundbreaking exhibition examines the ways in which American sculpture has shaped and reflected attitudes and understandings about race in the United States.
Media - 2019.15 - SAAM-2019.15_1 - 137377
Subversive, Skilled, Sublime: Fiber Art by Women
May 31, 2024–January 5, 2025
Renwick Gallery
The artists in Subversive, Skilled, Sublime: Fiber Art by Women mastered and subverted the everyday materials of cotton, felt, and wool to create deeply personal artworks.

Audio Guides

Experience the Museum Your Way

Smartify's free personalized tours are tailored to your interests and the time you have available. Simply answer a couple of quick questions and we'll hand pick a collection of unmissable objects and captivating stories just for you.

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Upcoming Featured Events

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Featured Stories

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Three paintings on a light blue background.
Asian American ArtExhibitions11/14/2024
Pictures of Belonging: Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi, and Miné Okubo
A new exhibition that restores three American women of Japanese descent to their rightful place in the story of modernism 
SAAM
Sculpture of a person completely covered with multiple colorful, intricate patterns standing against a dark red wall with the exhibition title "The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture."
African American ArtAsian American Art11/08/2024
The Shape of Power in American Art
A new exhibition explores how the history of race in the United States is entwined in the history of American sculpture.
SAAM
A white Christmas with a homemade box.
From the CollectionBehind-the-Scenes12/23/2022
Thinking Outside the Box: Joseph Cornell for the Holidays
Joseph Cornell, who was born in 1903 on Christmas Eve, often created handmade objects to give as gifts during the holidays.
Laura Augustin
Curatorial Assistant

New Acquisitions

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Aaron Douglas, Inspiration, 1967, oil on canvas panel, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Steven L. Jones in memory of his father Dr. William M. Jones Sr., Chicago educator and a storyteller for the soul, and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2024.36, Photography by Steven DeWitt, Lowy Inc.
Inspiration
Artist
Date1967
oil on canvas panel
Not on view
Bisa Butler, I Know Why the Caged Bird Beats His Wings, 2012, commercial cotton fabric, rayon, linen, chiffon, batik fabric, cotton batting, acrylic paint, and polyester fabric, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Fleur S. Bresler, 2023.40.5
I Know Why the Caged Bird Beats His Wings
Artist
Date2012
commercial cotton fabric, rayon, linen, chiffon, batik fabric, cotton batting, acrylic paint, and polyester fabric
Not on view
Miné Okubo, Portrait Study, ca. 1937, tempera on hardboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2023.46.1, © 2023, The Miné Okubo Charitable Corporation
Portrait Study
Artist
Dateca. 1937
tempera on hardboard
On view
Roberto Lugo, DNA Study Revisited, 2022, urethane resin life cast, foam, wire, and acrylic paint, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 2024.19
DNA Study Revisited
Artist
Date2022
urethane resin life cast, foam, wire, and acrylic paint
On view