SAAM Stories

A woman stands in front of a black sculpture
From the Director
10/19/2022
Director's Letter: A Season of Artful Changes
Stephanie Stebich, SAAM's director, takes a look at exhibitions and programs and welcomes a new head curator to the museum.
 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
Conservator wearing a head lamp, shines light on a mural.
From the Collection Women Artists
10/14/2022
Using 3D Imaging To Preserve Chicana Artist Judy Baca’s Mural Uprising of the Mujeres
A behind-the-scenes look at how 3D imaging helps a mural conservator preserve Judy Baca's Uprising of the Mujeres.
Wendy Rose
An illustration of a woman drawing at a table and a group of men behind her, looking on.
Women Artists
10/13/2022
Drawn to Judy Baca
Judith Baca is a Chicana artist, professor, arts administrator, community leader, and social and cultural activist, whose murals and paintings give voice to underrepresented communities.
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
Detail of a mural showing an indigenous woman at the forefront of a scene of farmworkers
From the Collection One Smithsonian
10/04/2022
Judy Baca On Her Mural Uprising of the Mujeres
SAAM talks with the artist about her inspirations and the process of creating a portable mural
Wendy Rose
A photograph of Claudia Zapata
Claudia Zapata
Former Curatorial Assistant of Latinx Art
A man seated in his living room, petting his dog.
Exhibitions
09/30/2022
A Family Affair: Collecting American Self-Taught Art
Collector Douglas O. Robson offers insights into his mother’s collecting habits, her dedication to self-taught artists, and his own collecting journey.
Kelly Skeen
Detail of comic cover depicting an illustration of the artist with protest signs behind her.
Chicano Graphics Women Artists
09/27/2022
Drawn to Ester Hernandez
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
An illustration of 10 women artists
Women Artists
09/22/2022
Comic Series Presents Ten (More) Stories About Visionaries and Rule Breakers
The comic series Drawn to Art, published online by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, features tales of inspiring women artists.
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
Detail of quilt that says "i / i am / i am still / i am not still / i am still not free"
Contemporary Craft Exhibitions
09/16/2022
Contemporary Craft in Focus: still not
Artist Chawne Kimber stitches her experiences and activism in vibrant, improvisational-style quilts
SAAM
A detailed crop of a highly textured ceramic vessel. The center shows a painting of the rapper Notorious B.I.G. The side handles are busts of Notorious B.I.G. on one and Tupac Shakur on the other.
Contemporary Craft Exhibitions
09/08/2022
Contemporary Craft in Focus: Roberto Lugo
Remixing classical ceramics and underrepresented figures with a hip-hop style
SAAM
Screenprint portrait of Cesar Chavez
Chicano Graphics From the Collection
09/01/2022
Chicanx Graphic Arts in Focus: Homenaje a Cesar Chavez
Exploring the life of a celebrated labor rights activist through his portrait
Headshot of woman with black hair
Rebekah Mejorado
Public Relations Specialist
A detail of a ceramic sculpture with glaze which appears to have melted
Contemporary Craft Exhibitions
08/25/2022
Contemporary Craft in Focus: Glazescape (Green Shade)
The decadent inspiration behind Lauren Mabry's ceramics
SAAM
Detail of Renwick 50th Anniversary poster with the banner "This Present Moment"
Contemporary Craft Exhibitions
08/16/2022
The Art and Craft of Printmaking
The Little Friends of Printmaking have created posters for the Renwick Gallery including for the current exhibition, This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World
Amy Hutchins
SAAM Marketing Manager
A visitor stands in the gallery, reading a binder of large print labels
Exhibitions Behind-the-Scenes
08/09/2022
Translating a Visual Experience
Creating visual descriptions to help blind or low vision visitors experience and appreciate works of art
Hannah Owh
Painting of a bouquet of multicolored flowers on the left and outline of bouquet of flowers in black contour line over white on the right.
From the Collection Luce Foundation Center
07/29/2022
Expression or Meditation: Coloring Pages for All Ages
Coloring books can offer space for creativity or release for children and adults. Inspired by artwork in SAAM’s collection, while away a quiet afternoon with some art supplies and our coloring sheets.
Amy Fox
Social Media and Digital Content Specialist
An orange graphic with multi-colored artwork that says Luce Listening Party with Hometown Sounds
Luce Foundation Center
07/19/2022
Luce Listening Party with Hometown Sounds comes to a close
The Luce Listening Party with Hometown Sounds comes to an end! In this final episode, listen to some outtakes that didn’t make the final podcasts.
Bridget Callahan
Luce Program Coordinator
Two women and a girl playing a game
Programs SAAM Arcade
07/14/2022
Drawing the Lines to Connect Video Games and Art
Celebrate the ways these essential art elements show up in video games.
This is an image of Lauren Kolodkin.
Lauren Kolodkin
External Affairs and Digital Strategies Assistant
Close up of mixed media portrait quilt
Contemporary Craft Exhibitions
07/08/2022
Contemporary Craft in Focus: Portrait of Resilience
Multimedia artist Sharon Kerry-Harlan pieces together portraits of contemporary Black American life using materials and symbols from the past and present
SAAM
Two wooden sculptures, an elephant and a dog
Exhibitions
06/29/2022
We Are Made of Stories: Self-Taught Artists Featured in the National Collection
Discover how the creativity and bold self-definition of untrained artists became major forces in American art.
SAAM