Where Will American Art Take You?
We are pleased to welcome you back to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery with safety measures in place
Thank you for your continued support while we were closed, and as we gradually reopen. We look forward to seeing you in the galleries. Stay safe and enjoy your visit.
Know Before You Go: Guidelines for Visiting
We are delighted to welcome visitors back into our galleries. To keep us all safe, we ask that visitors, including those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, follow these safety measures to protect everyone’s health. Please review the important information below as you plan your visit.
New Schedule
We are open Wednesday through Sunday. SAAM – 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Renwick Gallery – 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Face Coverings
All visitors ages two (2) and older are required to wear a mask while visiting Smithsonian museums and indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status.
Featured Online Program
Luce Unplugged, DC’s favorite local music concert series, is celebrating ten years of rocking out! Let’s celebrate by looking back at some of the greatest hits. Join local music aficionados for a virtual trip down memory lane and discuss favorite performances, local bands, and DC’s unique and vibrant music scene. Register now, Friday, October 1, at 6 p.m. ET.
Featured Artist Story
Beneath The Holly Tree: A Comic About Alma Thomas - Alma Thomas became the first woman to graduate from the art department at Howard University, as well as one of the first Black women to receive a degree in art. Her exuberant, colorful paintings explore the natural world around us, from garden to galaxy. Read more!
Featured Exhibition
Welcome Home, A Portrait of East Baltimore, 1975-1980 presents one of the documentary photography surveys funded by the National Endowment for the Art to celebrate the bicentennial of the country’s founding in 1976. The East Baltimore Survey was unique for having been conceived, led and carried out by women photographers—Elinor Cahn, Joan Clark Netherwood and Linda Rich and captures a visual record of a changing nation. Exhibition Now Open
Latest Blog Post
Exploring Latinx Stories in American Art
Drawn to Art: Ten Tales of Inspiring Women Artists
Drawn to Art is a comic series that illuminates the stories of ten women artists whose artwork is represented in the SAAM's collection, some of whom may not have received the attention they deserved in their lifetimes.
Portrait: A Comic About Mickalene Thomas
When contemporary artist Mickalene Thomas was in art school, she couldn’t afford traditional materials and gravitated towards craft stores and the glitter and rhinestones within. Her paintings speak to female empowerment and of women of color owning and defining their own spaces.
Picturing a City: A Comic About Berenice Abbott
Born in 1898, Berenice Abbott discovered her gift for photography in Paris. When she returned home, she created iconic portraits of buildings and people in New York City, images that still move us to this day.
In Awe of the Straight Line: A Comic About Carmen Herrera
Carmen Herrera was born in Havana, Cuba, then lived in Paris before moving to New York City in 1952. She faced discrimination in the art world for being an immigrant and a woman and only found success late in life for her minimal, beautiful works.
Featured Video
On Wednesday, September 15, 2021, the Smithsonian American Art Museum hosted a virtual lecture with creative powerhouse Fred Wilson. During this captivating virtual lecture, Wilson traces his artistic career and process through many decades, mediums, and techniques. He is known for challenging assumptions of history, culture, race, and conventions of display by reframing objects and cultural symbols, altering traditional interpretations, and encouraging viewers to reconsider social and historical narratives.
This program is part of our annual Clarice Smith Distinguished Lectures in American Art series, which presents new insights into American art from the perspectives of outstanding artists, critics, and scholars. The series is made possible by the generosity of Clarice Smith.
Explore all Museum Videos
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 2021, 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
Museum from Home: Crafting Edition
Enjoy the latest step-by-step guide to at-home crafting with SAAM’s craft master, and check out our video library of crafting projects from past Handi-hour events.
Browse Art
