Eye Level

Eye Level is the blog of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery. Publishing behind-the-scenes museum stories since 2005.

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  How Native Women Artists Guided the Creation of Hearts of Our People

  The groundbreaking exhibition at the Renwick features more than 80 works from antiquity to the present

Luce Unplugged: Five Questions for Des Demonas

Learn more about Des Demonas in advance of their appearance at Luce Unplugged on February 13, 2020.

Luce Foundation Center

Five Question Interviews

Beyond the Studio with Katherine Akey

Get to know local artist, Katherine Akey, in advance of her Beyond the Studio Workshop on February 9, 2020.

Luce Foundation Center

Before There Was Beyoncé, There Was Humboldt

Meet Alexander von Humboldt, the singular superstar of the 1800s

Exhibitions

Nam June Paik and New Media at SAAM

The "Father of Video Art" takes center stage in a new installation and book.

Exhibitions

Luce Unplugged: Five Questions for Pree

The Luce Foundation Center's interview with May Tabol of dark-pop band, Pree, in advance of her performance at the Luce Unplugged Community Showcase on January 31, 2020.

Luce Foundation Center

Luce Unplugged: Five Questions for Carly Harvey

Learn more about DC's Queen of the Blues, Carly Harvey, in advance of her performance at the Luce Unplugged Community Showcase on January 31, 2020.

Luce Foundation Center

John Baldessari: An Appreciation

Remembering the influential artist whose video works helped define contemporary art

Beyond the Studio with Carlos Carmonamedina

Get to know local illustrator, Carlos Carmonamedina, ahead of his Beyond the Studio Workshop on January 26, 2020.

Luce Foundation Center

Museum: A Tale of Art, Life, and Everything In Between

A funny thing happened on the way to the museum...

Saying Goodbye to Artworks by David Best, Ginny Ruffner, and Michael Sherrill

Last chance to see three exhibitions at SAAM's Renwick Gallery is January 5, 2020

Exhibitions

Craft and Decorative Arts

The Lost Kusamas

Discovering four watercolors by Yayoi Kusama in SAAM's Joseph Cornell Study Center

New Acquisitions

Beyond the Studio with Rock Paper Plant

The founders of Rock Paper Plant, Alicia Mazzara and Cielo Contreras, explain how their business got its roots in this interview before their upcoming Beyond the Studio Workshop.

Luce Foundation Center

Luce Unplugged: Five Questions for Washington Social Club

The Luce Foundation Center's interview with the recently reunited indie-rock band, Washington Social Club, in advance of their Luce Unplugged performance on December 5, 2019.

Luce Foundation Center

Five Question Interviews

We Look to Art

SAAM's director, Stephanie Stebich, looks to art as a way to elevate stories of our shared humanity

From the Director

Behind the Screens: Chiura Obata

Chiura Obata: American Modern contains some of the artist's rarely seen folded screens.

Exhibitions

Behind-the-Scenes

Take Five! Duke Pearson and Blue Note Records

A closer look at Duke Pearson’s role in creating the "Blue Note sound."

Programs

Meet the Director: Street Heroines' Alexandra Henry

Learn more about the documentary that celebrates the vision and tenacity of women street artists.

Programs

Representation Matters: Bringing Women’s Stories Into the Classroom Through American Art and Portraiture

A collaboration between SAAM and NPG illuminates the lives and works of women artists in our collections.

Education

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