A Woman Deserving our Attention and RESPECT
In honor of the Queen of Soul, the iconic singer and songwriter, Aretha Franklin.
Eye Level
Eye Level is the blog of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery. Publishing behind-the-scenes museum stories since 2005.
The Face of the Madonna and the Eyes of a Child: On Sargent's "Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler"
Taking another look at John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler.
Road Trip: Painted Deserts
August is for staff Artful Road Trips. Libby shares her journey to Arches National Park, Utah.
Luce Unplugged: Five questions for OG Lullabies
On Thursday, August 2nd, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, the Luce Foundation Center hosts another installment of Luce Unplugged. Thursday shows, presented with D.C. Music Download, are a tribute to a Luce Center artwork selected by the performer.
Conservation in the Digital Age
A review of conservator Dann Finn's talk on Jenny Holzer's, "For SAAM."
You Are Invited: "Happy Birthday, Nam June Paik"
Curator of New Media, Saisha Grayson, introduces artist Saya Woolfalk who will speak at the Nam June Paik birthday event, July 22, 2018.
Revisiting Edward Hopper's "Cape Cod Morning"
A closer look at Edward Hopper's iconic painting, Cape Cod morning, in honor of the artist's birthday on July 22.
Luce Unplugged: ParkSnakes
An interview with ParkSnakes in anticipation of their performance at the Luce Center on July 20, 2018.
A Brush with History: Letters to Jonathan Van Ness
We imagine the letters of 19th-century sitters to Jonathan Van Ness, star of the Netflix series, Queer Eye.
Get Your Game On: SAAM Arcade 2018
Congratulations are in order! We’re so excited to announce that we’ve selected fifteen incredible independent games to showcase at this year’s SAAM Arcade!
Trevor Paglen: Sites Unseen Now Open
Installing Trevor Paglen's Prototype for a Nonfunctional Satellite in the exhibition Trevor Paglen: Sites Unseen.
Ten Million Patents...and Counting
SAAM is honoring the Patent Office's issuing of its 10 millionth patent on June 19, 2018, with a look at patents in our own collection.
Sites Unseen: Trevor Paglen’s Retrospective at SAAM
"Trevor Paglen: Sites Unseen," is as sanguine as it is surreptitious, inviting viewers to question the very essence of surveillance and to ask themselves whether a surreal sky or landscape can ever be just that.
Movies at SAAM: Designing a Film
Summer movies at SAAM include Barry Lyndon; 2001: A Space Odyssey; and Taxi Driver.
Truth Is Beauty
“What would the world be like if women were truly safe?” This is the question Marco Cochrane challenges both male and female audiences to consider when viewing his sculpture "Truth is Beauty."
SAAM’s Docents Celebrate 50 Years of Artful Conversations
The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s own corps of volunteer docents has an illustrious history of creating eye-opening experiences for visitors, and this year marks their 50th anniversary.