New Acquisitions

The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection, which includes artworks in all media—from paintings, sculpture, prints, and drawings to time-based media, photographs, self-taught art, and contemporary craft—reveals key aspects of the rich artistic and cultural history of the United States from the eighteenth century to today. The museum's curators in recent years have focused on bringing into the nation's collection artworks made by a broadly representative and diverse group of American artists including Black, Latinx, Asian American, LGBTQ+, Indigenous and women artists.

Selected recent acquisitions are highlighted below. Learn more in our SAAM Stories series about artworks new to the collection.  

2023

Sanford Biggers, Lady Interbellum, 2020, white marble on custom cedar plinth, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2022.44.2A-C, Courtesy of the artist and Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York and Aspen. © Sanford Biggers. Photo credit: Lance Brewer
Lady Interbellum
Date2020
white marble on custom cedar plinth
Not on view
Sanford Biggers, whence
wince, 2020, antique quilts and charcoal, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2022.44.1, Courtesy of the artist and Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York and Aspen. © Sanford Biggers. Photo credit: Lance Brewer
whence wince
Date2020
antique quilts and charcoal
Not on view
Barbara Hammer, Pond & Waterfall, 1982, 16mm film transferred to video, color, silent; 14:53 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Richard Chang, 2023.4.2
Pond & Waterfall
Date1982
16mm film transferred to video, color, silent; 14:53 minutes
Not on view
Barbara Hammer, Optic Nerve, 1985, 16mm film transferred to video, color, sound; 16:43 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Richard Chang, 2023.4.1
Optic Nerve
Date1985
16mm film transferred to video, color, sound; 16:43 minutes
Not on view
Hisako Hibi, Floating Clouds, 1944, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the American Women's History Initiative Acquisitions Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, 2023.6.1, © 2024, Ibuki Hibi Lee
Floating Clouds
Date1944
oil on canvas
Not on view
Hisako Hibi, Autumn, ca. 1967, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the American Women's History Initiative Acquisitions Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, 2023.6.3, © 2024, Ibuki Hibi Lee
Autumn
Dateca. 1967
oil on canvas
Not on view
Carrie Mae Weems, Lincoln, Lonnie, and Me - A Story in 5 Parts, 2012, video installation and mixed media, color, sound; 18:29 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the American Women's History Initiative Acquisitions Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, 2023.9A-G, © Carrie Mae Weems. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Lincoln, Lonnie, and Me — A Story in 5 Parts
Date2012
video installation and mixed media, color, sound; 18:29 minutes
On view
Hank Willis Thomas, Pledge, 2018, screenprint on retroflective vinyl mounted on aluminum composite, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Elizabeth and James Eisenstein Family, 2023.12
Pledge
Date2018
screenprint on retroflective vinyl mounted on aluminum composite
On view
Kamekichi Tokita, Self Portrait, ca. 1935, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Kamekichi and Haruko Tokita family of Seattle, Washington, USA, 2023.11
Self Portrait
Dateca. 1935
oil on canvas
On view
Firelei Báez, Untitled (Premiere Carte Pour L'Introduction A L'Histoire De Monde), 2022, oil and acrylic on archival printed canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the American Women's History Initiative Acquisitions Pool administered by the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative and the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2023.32, © 2023, Firelei Báez. Image courtesy of the artist and James Cohan, New York. Photographer: Jackie Furtado
Untitled (Première Carte Pour L’Introduction A L’Histoire…
Date2022
oil and acrylic on archival printed canvas
On view

2022

Tanya Aguiñiga, Metabolizing the Border, 2018-2020, Performance. Unique objects worn by artist/performer (glass, neoprene, rusted metal fragments of U.S./Mexico border fence, leather, cotton twine, flashlight) and photodocumentation of the performance (digital files), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Joint museum purchase with the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum through the American Women's History Initiative Acquisitions Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, 2022.31.1.1-.10
Metabolizing the Border
Date2018-2020
Performance. Unique objects worn by artist/performer (glass, neoprene, rusted metal fragments of U.S./Mexico border fence, leather, cotton twine, flashlight) and photodocumentation of the performance (digital files)
Not on view
Corey Alston, From Traditional to Contemporary, 2021, sweetgrass, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Carolyn L. Mazloomi, 2022.6
From Traditional to Contemporary
Date2021
sweetgrass
On view
Bisa Butler, Don't Tread on Me, God Damn, Let's Go! - The Harlem Hellfighters, 2021, cottons, silk, wool, and velvet, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of David Bonderman, 2022.25, © 2022, Bisa Butler
Don’t Tread on Me, God Damn, Let’s Go! — The Harlem…
Date2021
cottons, silk, wool, and velvet
Not on view
Sonya Clark, Monumental, 2019, woven linen with madder dye and tea stain, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the American Women's History Initiative Acquisitions Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, and the Kenneth R. Trapp Acquisition Fund, 2022.13, © 2019, Sonya Y.S. Clark
Monumental
Date2019
woven linen with madder dye and tea stain
Not on view
Coco Fusco, Y entonces el mar te habla (And the Sea Will Talk to You), 2012, installation with single-channel digital film, color, sound; 45:00 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase in part through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, and the Frank K. Ribelin Endowment, 2022.52A-B, © 2012, Coco Fusco
Y entonces el mar te habla (And the Sea Will Talk to You)
Date2012
installation with single-channel digital film, color, sound; 45:00 minutes
Not on view
Glenn Kaino, Bridge, 2013-2014, fiberglass, steel, wire and gold paint, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2022.34, © 2013-2014, Glenn Kaino
Bridge
Date2013-2014
fiberglass, steel, wire and gold paint
Not on view
Dan Miller, Untitled (239_2016), 2016, acrylic and ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, The Robson Family Collection, Gift of Douglas O. Robson, 2022.3, © Creative Growth Art Center
Untitled (239_2016)
Date2016
acrylic and ink on paper
Not on view
Tuan Andrew Nguyen, The Island, 2017, single-channel video, color, 5.1 surround sound; 42:00 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Asian Pacific American Initiative Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, 2022.51
The Island
Date2017
single-channel video, color, 5.1 surround sound; 42:00 minutes
Not on view
Winfred Rembert, Picking Cotton with Boss Men, 2007, dye on carved and tooled leather, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2022.35, © Estate of Winfred Rembert/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Picking Cotton with Boss Men
Date2007
dye on carved and tooled leather
Not on view
Kapulani Landgraf, Pu‘u Nēnē, from the series Ponoiwi, 2011, hand-etched silver gelatin print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Frank K. Ribelin Endowment, in partnership with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, 2022.46.3
Pu‘u Nēnē, from the series Ponoiwi
Date2011
hand-etched silver gelatin print
Not on view
Kapulani Landgraf, Puka mai, 2002, hand-woven silver gelatin collage, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Frank K. Ribelin Endowment, in partnership with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, 2022.46.1
Puka mai
Date2002
hand-woven silver gelatin collage
Not on view
Mark Dagley, Hero, 1987, acrylic, polymer resin on canvas, mounted on wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Michael Abrams and Sandra Stewart and museum purchase, 2022.12, © 1987, Mark Dagley
Hero
Date1987
acrylic, polymer resin on canvas, mounted on wood
Not on view
Chitra Ganesh, The Scorpion Gesture, 2018, suite of 5 digital animations, color, sound; 07:59 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, in partnership with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the Samuel and Blanche Koffler Acquisition Fund, 2022.50, © 2022, Chitra Ganesh
The Scorpion Gesture
Date2018
suite of 5 digital animations, color, sound; 07:59 minutes
Not on view
Audrey Flack, Queen, 1976, acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Louis K. and Susan P. Meisel, 2022.11.5
Queen
Date1976
acrylic on canvas
On view
Daniel Lind-Ramos, María Guabancex, 2022, Siding from the artist’s home, various metal construction elements,
dried palm tree branch, dried palm tree trunks, dried tree trunks, various textiles, painted coconut, FEMA
tarp, plastic bubble wrap, painted wood, plastic hoses, painted hose spigot, maracas, plastic tubing,
electrical cables, trumpet, metal cables, ropes, drum, metal buckets, painted vinyl,
 found shoes, and bedazzled boxing bags, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase in part through the Smithsonian Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, and the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2022.41A-DD
María Guabancex
Date2022
Siding from the artist’s home, various metal construction elements, dried palm tree branch, dried palm tree trunks, dried tree trunks, various textiles, painted coconut, FEMA tarp, plastic bubble wrap, painted wood, plastic hoses, painted hose spigot,
Not on view
Ralph Goings, Jeep 40 809B (Safway Jeep), 1969, acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Louis K. and Susan P. Meisel, 2022.11.6
Jeep 40809B (Safway Jeep)
Date1969
acrylic on canvas
Not on view
Tom Blackwell, Broadway, 1982, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Louis K. and Susan P. Meisel, 2022.11.2
Broadway
Date1982
oil on canvas
Not on view
Truman Lowe, Totem for Henu (Totem for Eldest Daughter), 1986, milled lumber, peeled willow, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2022.9.3, © 2021, Truman Lowe Estate
Totem for Henu (Totem for Eldest Daughter)
Date1986
milled lumber, peeled willow
On view
Alison Saar, Rouse, 2012, wood, bronze, paper, antler sheds, and stamped ceiling tin, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the American Women's History Initiative Acquisitions Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, 2022.32A-C, © 2012, Alison Saar. Courtesy of L.A. Louver
Rouse
Date2012
wood, bronze, paper, antler sheds, and stamped ceiling tin
On view

2021

2020

2019

Yayoi Kusama, Forlorn Spot, 1953, watercolor, pastel, ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Benton and The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 2019.32.4
Forlorn Spot
Date1953
watercolor, pastel, ink on paper
Not on view
Yayoi Kusama, Fire, ca. 1954, watercolor, pastel, ink, tempera on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Benton and The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 2019.32.3
Fire
Dateca. 1954
watercolor, pastel, ink, tempera on paper
Not on view
Jeff Donaldson, Victory in Zimbabwe, 1980, mixed media on cardboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum Purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2019.1, © 2018, Estate of Jeff Donaldson
Victory in Zimbabwe
Date1980
mixed media on cardboard
On view
Ammi Phillips, Portrait of Helen (Lena) Ten Broeck, 1834, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ralph and Bobbi Terkowitz, 2019.6.10
Portrait of Helen (Lena) Ten Broeck
Date1834
oil on canvas
On view
Ammi Phillips, Portrait of Mrs. Robinson, ca. 1819, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ralph and Bobbi Terkowitz, 2019.6.11
Portrait of Mrs. Robinson
Dateca. 1819
oil on canvas
On view
Roy Superior, Patent Model for a Good Life, 1995, soap stone, ebony, rosewood, polychrome, leather, silver, brass, and bone, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Kohler Foundation, Inc., 2019.7.3
Patent Model for a Good Life
Date1995
soap stone, ebony, rosewood, polychrome, leather, silver, brass, and bone
Not on view
Fred Wilson, I Saw Othello's Visage in His Mind, 2013, Murano glass and wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2019.8, © 2013, Fred Wilson
I Saw Othello’s Visage in His Mind
Date2013
Murano glass and wood
Not on view
Dawoud Bey, A Girl and Boy Sitting on a Stoop, 1989, printed 2018, inkjet photograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2019.30.2, © 2019, Dawoud Bey
A Girl and Boy Sitting on a Stoop
Date1989, printed 2018
inkjet photograph
Not on view
Dawoud Bey, Two Boys at Carrolburg Place, Washington, D.C., 1989, printed 2018, inkjet photograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2019.30.1, © 2019, Dawoud Bey
Two Boys at Carrolburg Place, Washington, D.C.
Date1989, printed 2018
inkjet photograph
Not on view
Chitra Ganesh, Girl, Simone Leigh, My Dreams, My Works Must Wait Till After Hell, 2011, single-channel digital video, color, sound; 07:14 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Samuel and Blanche Koffler Acquisition Fund, 2019.33.1, © Girl (Simone Leigh and Chitra Ganesh); Courtesy of the artists and Luhring Augustine, New York
My Dreams, My Works Must Wait Till After Hell
Date2011
single-channel digital video, color, sound; 07:14 minutes
Not on view
Liz Magic Laser, Simone Leigh, Breakdown, 2011, single-channel digital video, color, sound; 09:00 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Samuel and Blanche Koffler Acquisition Fund, 2019.33.2, © 2011, Simone Leigh & Liz Magic Laser
Breakdown
Date2011
single-channel digital video, color, sound; 09:00 minutes
Not on view
Michael Menchaca, El Coyote, 2010, screenprint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Drs. Harriett and Ricardo Romo, 2019.50.29, © MMXX, Michael Menchaca
El Coyote
Date2010
screenprint on paper
Not on view
Carlos Francisco Jackson, Breaking the Fast, 1968, 2012, screenprint on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Drs. Harriett and Ricardo Romo, 2019.50.2, © 2012, Carlos Francisco Jackson
Breaking the Fast, 1968
Date2012
screenprint on paper
Not on view
Judith F. Baca, Uprising of the Mujeres, 1979, acrylic on six wooden panels, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center, and the Luisita L. and Franz H Denghausen Endowment, 2019.26A-F
Uprising of the Mujeres
Date1979
acrylic on six wooden panels
Not on view
Grandma Moses, We Are Resting, 1951, oil on pressed wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Kallir Family, in Memory of Hildegard Bachert, 2019.55
We Are Resting
Date1951
oil on pressed wood
Not on view
Nellie Mae Rowe, Shopping in Vinings, Georgia, 1981, watercolor, crayon, and graphite on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Josh Feldstein, 2019.53.2
Shopping in Vinings, Georgia
Date1981
watercolor, crayon, and graphite on paper
Not on view

2018

2017

Martin Puryear, Vessel, 1997-2002, Eastern white pine, mesh, tar, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Nion McEvoy and Leslie Berriman in memory of Nan Tucker McEvoy, gift of Lucy S. Rhame, and museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2017.18, © 1997-2002, Martin Puryear
Vessel
Date1997-2002
Eastern white pine, mesh, tar
On view
Thomas Crawford, Christian Pilgrim in Sight of Rome, 1847, marble and bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of William and Abigail Gerdts, 2017.37.1
Christian Pilgrim in Sight of Rome
Date1847
marble and bronze
Not on view
John Kane, The Old Mill, ca. 1930, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Josh Feldstein, 2017.35.1
The Old Mill
Dateca. 1930
oil on canvas
Not on view
Grandma Moses, Out for Christmas Trees, 1946, oil on pressed wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Kallir Family in honor of Hildegard Bachert, 2017.34.2, © Grandma Moses Properties Co., New York
Out for Christmas Trees
Date1946
oil on pressed wood
Not on view
Grandma Moses, Turkeys, 1958, oil on pressed wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Kallir Family in memory of Otto Kallir, 2017.34.1, © Grandma Moses Properties Co., New York
Turkeys
Date1958
oil on pressed wood
Not on view
Paul Strand, Man, Tenancingo de Degollado, 1933, printed ca. 1933, platinum print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2016.40.12, © 1940, Aperture Foundation / Paul Strand Estate
Man, Tenancingo de Degollado
Date1933, printed ca. 1933
platinum print
Not on view
Jerome Liebling, Butterfly Boy, New York City, 1949, printed ca. 1949, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2016.40.4, © Jerome Liebling
Butterfly Boy, New York City
Date1949, printed ca. 1949
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Theaster Gates, Ground rules. Free throw, 2015, wooden flooring, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2017.40, © 2015, Theaster Gates
Ground rules. Free throw
Date2015
wooden flooring
On view
Rufino Tamayo, Carnival, 1936, gouache on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2017.22
Carnival
Date1936
gouache on paper
Not on view
Fanny Sanín, Acrylic No.6, 1975, acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Gene Davis Memorial Fund, 2017.20, © 1975, Fanny Sanín
Acrylic No.6
Date1975
acrylic on canvas
Not on view

2016

Volume (Renwick)
Date2015
white LEDs, mirror-finished stainless steel, custom software, and electrical hardware
On view
Folding the Chesapeake
Date2015
fiberglass marbles
Not on view
Janet Echelman, 1.8 Renwick, 2015, knotted and braided fiber with programmable lighting and wind movement above printed textile flooring, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the American Art Forum, 2017.7, © 2015, Janet Echelman
1.8 Renwick
Date2015
knotted and braided fiber with programmable lighting and wind movement above printed textile flooring
On view
Bill Traylor, Untitled (Yellow and Blue House with Figures and Dog), 1939, colored pencil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2016.14.5, © 1994, Bill Traylor Family Trust
Untitled (Yellow and Blue House with Figures and Dog)
Date1939
colored pencil on paperboard
Not on view
Bill Traylor, Untitled (Radio), ca. 1940-1942, opaque watercolor and pencil on printed advertising paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2016.14.4, © 1994, Bill Traylor Family Trust
Untitled (Radio)
Dateca. 1940-1942
opaque watercolor and pencil on printed advertising paperboard
Not on view
Bill Traylor, Untitled (Legs Construction with Blue Man), ca. 1940-1942, opaque watercolor, pencil, and charcoal on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2016.14.3, © 1994, Bill Traylor Family Trust
Untitled (Legs Construction with Blue Man)
Dateca. 1940-1942
opaque watercolor, pencil, and charcoal on paperboard
Not on view
Bill Traylor, Untitled (Dog Fight with Writing), ca. 1939-1940, opaque watercolor and pencil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2016.14.2, © 1994, Bill Traylor Family Trust
Untitled (Dog Fight with Writing)
Dateca. 1939-1940
opaque watercolor and pencil on paperboard
Not on view
Bill Traylor, Untitled (Construction with Yawping Woman), ca. 1939-1942, opaque watercolor and pencil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2016.14.1, © 1994, Bill Traylor Family Trust
Untitled (Construction with Yawping Woman)
Dateca. 1939-1942
opaque watercolor and pencil on paperboard
Not on view
Bill Traylor, Untitled (Red Goat with Snake), ca. 1940-1942, opaque watercolor and pencil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Judy A. Saslow, 2016.15, © 1994, Bill Traylor Family Trust
Untitled (Red Goat with Snake)
Dateca. 1940-1942
opaque watercolor and pencil on paperboard
Not on view