Welcome to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery
Explore the sweep of four centuries of the the American imagination at the nation's flagship museum for American art and craft. Dive into inspiring artworks, special exhibitions, and the reimagined collection — American Voices and Visions: Modern and Contemporary Art. 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, and more. Admission is always free.
Featured Exhibitions
Ongoing
Glenn Kaino’s powerful aerial sculpture Bridge, suspended from the ceiling of SAAM’s Luce Foundation Center, evokes the ways that even small acts can ripple through time and alter the course of history.
May 31, 2024–January 5, 2025
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.
March 28, 2024–August 26, 2024
Explore the creative practice of Amish quilters in the United States.
March 8, 2024–September 10, 2024
William H. Johnson's Fighters for Freedom series from the mid-1940s is a tribute to African American activists, scientists, teachers, and performers as well as international leaders working to bring peace to the world.
December 8, 2023 — December 6, 2026
A presentation of Isaac Julien’s tour de force moving image installation that interweaves period reenactments across five screens to create a vivid picture of nineteenth-century activist, writer, orator, and philosopher Frederick Douglass.
September 15, 2023–August 4, 2024
The exhibition Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas provides an intimate view of Alma Thomas’ evolving artistic practices during her most prolific period from 1959 to her death in 1978.
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.
Featured Stories
A look into the long career of renowned artist Audrey Flack.
SAAM
Women Artists07/11/2024
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
From the Collection07/02/2024
Whatever your plans for America's birthday, we have an artwork to fit. Pour yourself a lemonade, find a spot in the shade, and enjoy your holiday with a dash of American art.
Amy Fox
Social Media and Digital Content Specialist
SAAM's educators invite students and visitors to reflect on William H. Johnson's portraits and make connections to our world today.
Emily Berg
Phoebe Hillemann
Teacher Institutes Educator
Women Artists06/13/2024
Artists and visitors mingled at the Subversive, Skilled, Sublime: Fiber Art Open House
Katie Hondorf
Public Affairs Specialist
Exploring the personal transformation reflected in her artwork Rouse.
SAAM
Featured Video
"Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas" Introduction
Pattern and vibrant color come to life in the work of groundbreaking artist and educator Alma Thomas. SAAM holds the largest public collection of Thomas's works in the world and the exhibition features many of the pieces from her most prolific period.
“Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice” Introduction
Explore William H. Johnson’s remarkable "Fighters for Freedom" series, which he painted in the mid-1940s as a tribute to African American activists, scientists, teachers, and performers as well as international leaders working to bring peace to the world.
Meet the Artist: Audrey Flack
Go into the studio of renowned artist Audrey Flack (1931-2024) for an engaging personal interview on her long career and her quest for truth, peace, and understanding.