SAAM Stories

Craftsman David “Dave” Drake, enslaved for most of his life, produced uncommonly large ceramic jars in 19th-century South Carolina adorned by his poetic verses

Director Stephanie Stebich looks forward to the year ahead

Artist Judith Schaechter uses the labor-intensive medium of stained glass to capture a singular moment in time

A tribute to the Renwick Gallery's Founding Director, Lloyd Herman, a man whose name was synonymous with studio craft

Andrew Clemens invented, then perfected, the art of the sand bottle in the late nineteenth century.

SAAM remembers the towering twentieth-century figurative painter, Philip Pearlstein.

In addition to her own success, Harlem Renaissance sculptor Augusta Savage dedicated her career to creating opportunities for Black artists.

Joseph Cornell, who was born in 1903 on Christmas Eve, often created handmade objects to give as gifts during the holidays.

An archivist looks at the important art and objects in the Joseph Cornell Study Center

A look at the extraordinary career of master metalsmith and painter Daniel Brush

A closer look at Joseph Cornell's work and his continuing influence, even 50 years after his death

SAAM’s video series, American Art Moments, takes a closer look at the monumental quilt The Harlem Hellfighters by Bisa Butler

Taking a closer look at Claggett Wilson’s watercolor paintings that depict his experiences as a combat marine in World War I 

Artist gwendolyn yoppolo focuses on creating meaningful relationships through a shared dining experience

Jaune Quick-To-See Smith (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation) was born on the Flathead Indian Reservation in western Montana in 1940. Throughout her long and distinguished career she has used her art to powerfully express her support for Native American communities

For centuries humans have been bringing the outside in, brightening up interior spaces by incorporating plants into homes and offices. Twice a year, horticulturists at the Smithsonian mimic rain and wind to help keep the trees in the Kogod Courtyard happy and thriving.

SAAM’s conservators find the delicate balance between original work and restoration through two dolls

Marie Watt honors veterans and Indigenous communities through simple objects that hold powerful stories