SAAM Stories

Illustration of the artist Wendy Red Star
Women Artists
11/15/2023
Drawn to Wendy Red Star
Celebrating the renowned artist whose work questions misconceptions around Native identity
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
A woven robe with fringe and patterns of brown, blue and white with a yellow border.
Contemporary Craft Exhibitions
11/09/2023
Contemporary Native American Art in Focus: Between Worlds (Child's Robe)
An in-depth look at the ceremonial robe Between Worlds (Child's Robe) by Lily Hope (Tlingit)
SAAM
Side by side artworks displaying symbols in a musical arrangement.
Exhibitions
11/03/2023
Contemporary Native American Art in Focus: For Zitkála-Šá
Award winning composer Raven Chacon combines Diné (Navajo) worldviews with Western classical and avant-garde music traditions
SAAM
A group of students taking a selfie in front of a projected screen.
Education
10/31/2023
Creating Uniquely American Stories
Students at DC public schools create stories based on artworks in SAAM's collection
Carol Wilson
Illustration of a woman surrounded by flowers.
Women Artists
10/12/2023
Drawn to Consuelo Jimenez Underwood
Celebrating the renowned textile artist with a comic about her life and work
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
Bicycle sculpture with a neon artwork above it that reads "Pa-lan-te."
Exhibitions From the Collection
10/06/2023
In Focus: Pa-lan-te and Double Phantom/EntroP.R.
Exploring history, politics, and culture with Puerto Rican artist Miguel Luciano
SAAM
View of SAAM gallery.
Exhibitions Women Artists
09/28/2023
What a Wonderful World: Seeing Beauty Through the Eyes of Alma Thomas
Go inside the galleries of Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas
A photograph of a woman.
Katie Hondorf
Public Affairs Specialist
View of SAAM gallery.
Exhibitions
09/22/2023
New Perspectives: Welcome to American Voices and Visions
Your favorite pieces from SAAM’s collection are now on display alongside new works in the redesigned modern and contemporary galleries
SAAM
A photograph of a woman in front of artwork
Exhibitions From the Director
09/22/2023
Director’s Letter: Reopened and Reimagined
SAAM's renovated and reimagined modern and contemporary galleries transform the museum’s third floor into spaces for wonder and reflection
 Stephanie Stebich, SAAM's Margaret and Terry Stent Direction in the museum's Lincoln Gallery. Photo by Gene Young. 
Stephanie Stebich
The Margaret and Terry Stent Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery
A photograph of a person standing in front of an artwork. She is wearing earbuds and holding her phone up to the work.
Exhibitions Technology
09/20/2023
Experience the Museum Your Way With New Audio Tours
SAAM teamed up with the digital firm Smartify to create a series of audio tours that deepen the visitor experience, both in our galleries and online.
SAAM
Photograph of two conservators working on a canvas.
Exhibitions From the Collection
09/19/2023
Technology Catches Up: A Conservation Story About Morris Louis’s Painting Beta Upsilon
The development of a new laser technology allowed for the successful conservation treatment and return of this important color field painting to public view
Anna Nielsen
An illustration of a group of 10 women artists.
Women Artists
09/14/2023
Drawn to Art Returns with Ten New Digital Comics About Inspiring Women
SAAM's comic series launches ten more stories of remarkable women artists
Emma Hitchcock
Detail of a portrait of Sandra Cisneros
From the Collection
09/13/2023
In Focus: The Protagonist of an Endless Story
Uncovering the passion and power behind Angel Rodríguez-Díaz’s portraiture
SAAM
A man stands drawing on a white board.
Exhibitions From the Collection
09/01/2023
Where Creative Growth Happens: The Word on Dan Miller
The second part of an interview with Tom di Maria, director emeritus of the Creative Growth Art Center
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
Three people sit at a table. Racks of clothes hang behind them.
Exhibitions From the Collection
08/25/2023
Where Creativity Happens: On Art for People with Differing Abilities
An interview with Tom di Maria, director emeritus of Oakland's Creative Growth Art Center
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
A man wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a scarf taking a selfie in the desert. A pyre is in the distance.
Exhibitions Behind-the-Scenes
08/18/2023
Embrace the Dust: A Burning Man Journal
A personal journal by museum educator Geoffrey Cohrs
A picture of a man with a green shirt and tie on standing inside a room.
Geoffrey Cohrs
Docent Coordinator
A woman with brown skin and short hair stands holding an African-inspired mask close to her face, covering one eye. In the background are bright, geometric shapes in red, blue, and yellow.
Women Artists
08/03/2023
Drawn to Loïs Mailou Jones
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
Two off-white, beaded bonnets on display in a glass case. In the background is a large painting.
Exhibitions
07/28/2023
The American West Comes East
Many Wests brings a reimagining of this iconic region to SAAM
Headshot of woman with black hair
Rebekah Mejorado
Public Relations Specialist