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Some of our recent Acquisitions: Lichtenstein, Christo, and Paik
The Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, which includes artworks in all media—from painting and sculpture to film and media art, photographs, folk art and contemporary craft—reveals key aspects of America's rich artistic and cultural history from the colonial period to today. In recent years, the museum's acquisition efforts have focused on strengthening its modern and contemporary collections. Sign up to receive email updates about exhibitions and acquisitions.
Below are links to selected major acquisitions.
2012
- Benny Andrews, Portrait of the Black Madonna (1987); The Long Rows (1966)
- Constantino Brumidi, Study for the Apotheosis of Washington in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol Building (ca. 1859-1862)
- Margarita Cabrera, Black and Grey Toaster (2011); Brown Blender (2011); White Coffee Maker (2011)
- Melesio Casas, Humanscape 62: Brownies of the Southwest (1970)
- James Castle, 54 Untitled works on paper
- Nick Cave, Soundsuit (2009)
- Dale Chihuly, Slate Green and Amber Tipped Chandelier (1994)
- Inka Essenhigh, Spring (2006)
- Christina Fernandez, Maria’s Great Expedition (1995-1996)
- Teresita Fernández, Nocturnal (Horizon Line) (2010)
- Ernie Gehr, Surveillance (2010)
- Annie Leibovitz, 78 photographs from the series Pilgrimage
- Mark Lombardi, Inner Sanctum: The Pope and His Bankers Michele Sindona and Roberto Calvi, ca. 1959-82 (5th Version) (1998)
- Frederick MacMonnies, Nathan Hale (1890)
- John Marin, Taos Canyon, New Mexico (1929)
- Rafael Soriano, Un Lugar Distante (A Distant Place) (1972); Candor de la Alborada (Candor of Dawn) (1994)
- Bill Viola, The Fall into Paradise (2005)
2011
- 79 baskets from Martha G. Ware and Steven R. Cole
- 25 ninteenth-century patent models from the Rothschild Collection
- Carlos Almaraz, Night Magic (Blue Jester) (1988)
- Allan D’Arcangelo, US Highway 1 (1962)
- Samuel Colman, Clearing Storm at Gibraltar (ca. 1860)
- Four photographs by Christopher Dawson
- R. Luke DuBois, 41 letterpress prints from the portfolio Hindsight is Always 20/20 (2008)
- Herbert Ferber, Surrational Zeus (1947)
- Carmen Herrera, Blanco y Verde (1960)
- Felrath Hines, Radiant (1983)
- Matthias Pliessnig, Drift (2011)
- Alexis Rockman, Manifest Destiny (2003-2004)
- Albert Pinkham Ryder, The Lorelei (ca. 1896 - 1917)
- Lino Tagliapietra, Mandara (2005)
- Mickalene Thomas, Portrait of Mnonja (2010)
- Ubaldo Vitali, Tureen for "Risotto alla Pescatore" (2001)
2010
- Cory Arcangel, Video Painting (2008)
- Jim Campbell, Grand Central Station #2 (2009)
- Walton Ford, Visitation (2004)
- John Gossage, Four untitled photographs from the series The Pond (ca. 1981-1985)
- Jacob Lawrence, Bar and Grill (1941)
- Sol LeWitt, Color Bands (2000)
- Sol Lewitt, Wavy Brushstrokes Superimposed #1-#4 (1995)
- Kerry James Marshall, SOB, SOB (2003)
- Mark Newport, Batman 2 (2005)
- Tim Rollins and K.O.S., By Any Means Necessary (after Malcolm X) (2008)
- Thomas Ruff, jpeg de01 (2005)
- Jean Shin, Chemical Balance III (2009)
2009
- Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, Sonoma and Marin Counties, California, 1972-1976, A Documentation Exhibition
- Sheila Hicks, The Silk Rainforest (about 1975)
- Karen LaMonte, Reclining Dress Impression with Drapery (2009)
- Hughie Lee-Smith, Confrontation (ca. 1970)
- Hughie Lee-Smith, The Beach (1962)
- Robert Longo, Untitled (Hercules) (2008)
- Nam June Paik Archive
- Charles White, Untitled (1950)
- William Wiley, Grebeny–The Burning Village after Bosch (1994)
2008
- Roy Lichtenstein, Modern Head (1974/1990)
- Walton Ford, Tur (2007)
- 40 photographs by Barbara Bosworth (1989-2005)
2007
- John Gossage, 54 untitled photographs from the series The Pond (1985)
- David Hockney, Savings and Loan Building (1967)
- Jenny Holzer, For SAAM (2007)
- Beth Lipman, Bancketje (Banquet) (2003)
2006
- Philip Pearlstein, Two Models in a Window with Cast Iron Toys (1987)
- Nam June Paik, Zen for TV (1963, 1976 version)
- John Singleton Copley, Robert Hooper (ca. 1770-1772)
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