Where Will American Art Take You?
We are pleased to welcome you to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery
Thank you for your continued support as we gradually reopen. We are delighted to welcome visitors back into our galleries and hope you enjoy your visit!
Know Before You Go: What's New
Please review the recent changes below as you plan your visit.
New Schedule
SAAM is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The Renwick Gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Face Coverings
Masks are not required when visiting Smithsonian museums or the National Zoo. Visitors may choose to wear a mask during their visit.
Featured Program
We Are Made of Stories: Selfhood and Experience in Art / The Margaret Z. Robson Symposium Series
Friday, October 7, 2022 from 1-6 p.m. ET
Join SAAM for a half-day symposium addressing recent scholarship centering on the critical role of content and culture in the field of self-taught American art. A five-speaker panel addresses the creativity and contributions of artists Joseph Yoakum, Henry Darger, Nellie Mae Rowe, Sam Doyle, Judith Scott, and Dan Miller. Register Now
From the Director
Stephanie Stebich, the Margaret and Terry Stent Director, discusses the 50th anniversary of the museum’s Renwick Gallery as the nation’s premier museum dedicated to American craft and the Renwick's new exhibition This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World. Read more
Featured Exhibition
We Are Made of Stories: Self-Taught Artists in the Robson Family Collection traces the rise of self-taught artists in the 20th century and examines how, despite wide-ranging societal, racial, and gender-based obstacles, their creativity and bold self-definition became major forces in American art. Discover the powerful personal journeys of forty-three game-changing artists including Howard Finster, Sister Gertrude Morgan, Nellie Mae Rowe, and Bill Traylor, among others. Now on view
Latest Blog Post
A Family Affair: Collecting American Self-Taught Art
Drawn to Art: Ten Tales of Inspiring Women Artists
Discover more inspiring stories about trailblazing women artists in the 2022 edition of SAAM's online comic series Drawn to Art: Ten Tales of Inspiring Women Artists. This year we celebrate Judith Baca, Tiffany Chung, Sonya Clark, Sarah Goodridge, Ester Hernandez, Loïs Mailou Jones, Nellie Mae Rowe, Augusta Savage, Jaune Quick-To-See Smith (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation) and Kay WalkingStick (Cherokee Nation).
Featured Video
Explore the rise of untrained artists in the 20th century and discover their powerful personal journeys in We Are Made of Stories: Self-Taught Artists in the Robson Family Collection. Featuring 43 artists including Judith Scott, Howard Finster, Sister Gertrude Morgan, Bill Traylor, and Nellie Mae Rowe, among others, the exhibition examines how, despite wide-ranging societal, racial and gender-based obstacles, their creativity and bold self-definition became major forces in American art.
Watch as Leslie Umberger, curator of the exhibition, discusses the importance of Margaret Z. Robson’s collecting vision and highlights game-changing artists presented in We Are Made of Stories. Hear from Douglas O. Robson on the importance of continuing his mother’s collecting tradition and his gift to SAAM.
New Acquisitions
Discover artworks recently added to the collection in New Acquisitions.
View New Acquisitions
Learn more about recently acquired artworks on SAAM's blog
Host an Event
Looking for an elegant and dazzling location to host an event in 2022 and beyond? Contact us, and let us help you make your event unforgettable.
Exhibitions Online
Browse exhibitions online, including artwork galleries, and artist and curator interviews.
View Upcoming Exhibitions
View Current and Past Exhibitions
Explore the Collection
Celebrate the extraordinary creativity of artists whose works reflect the American experience and global connections.
Explore all Art + Artists in the Collection
Browse Artwork by Category or Artist Names A-Z
For Educators
Local and national programs for teachers, students, and adult learners offer year-long professional opportunities for growth, learning, and professional development.
Visit Us From Home
Immerse yourself in Google Street View’s 360° museum images from anywhere.
Immersive Experiences
SAAM’s virtual reality museum apps present a selection of unique and immersive experiences.
For mobile
WONDER 360
Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death
For VR headsets
No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man
SAAM Beyond the Walls
