The D.C. Street Where Pioneering Abstract Artist Alma Thomas Lived for 70 Years Has Been Renamed in Her Honor
Thomas worked as an art teacher at the city’s public schools for 35 years before dedicating herself to painting full-time when she was in her 60s
Three Formerly Enslaved Artists Created Beautiful Pottery 150 Years Ago, and Now Their Wares Are Coveted Around the World
The stunning vessels from the H. Wilson & Company were forgotten for generations, only to gain new appreciation for the craftsmanship that went into them
From the Antebellum South to the Civil Rights Movement, Black American Women Have Long Told Their Stories Through Quilts
In a new exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery, over 30 works showcase the significance of this quilting tradition
Nineteen New and Revamped Smithsonian Shows to See in 2025—Plus One Bonus That Will Make You Go Wild for Nature
This year, the Institution’s museums are bringing to the public everything from the flair of state fairs to the artwork of Grandma Moses
Ten Must-See Museums Opening Around the World in 2025
New institutions dedicated to artificial intelligence, West African art, barbeque and more are expected to welcome visitors this year
Eleven Fascinating Acquisitions That Joined the Smithsonian’s Vast Collections in 2024
This year, the Institution collected everything from the stunning shell of an extinct cephalopod to a Blue Origin rocket booster
Discover the Remarkable Paintings of Three Japanese Americans Whose Life Stories Are Told Through Their Work
A new exhibition spotlights a trio who pushed the boundaries of American art and illustrated the experiences of World War II incarceration
See a Film That Reimagines History on the Malaysian Island That Served as a Refugee Site After the Vietnam War
The work, now on view at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, tells the story of two characters on the island—the last people alive in the world
Tommie Smith’s Raised Fist at the 1968 Olympics Inspired a Massive Golden Sculpture That Signifies the Art of His Protest
At the Smithsonian American Art Museum, an installation by artist Glenn Kaino made in collaboration with Smith reclaims the Olympian’s iconic gesture
Why the Nordic Countries Emerged as a Haven for 20th-Century African American Expatriates
An exhibition in Seattle spotlights the Black artists and performers who called Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden home between the 1930s and the 1980s
Northern Europe and the British Isles
At 200 Years Old, the London National Gallery Is Redefining What It Means to Be a ‘National’ Museum
Despite its decidedly traditional art collection, the British cultural institution is adopting a contemporary approach to public outreach and accessibility
Pioneering Artist Faith Ringgold Stitched Together Stories of Black Life
The Harlem-born painter, who died this week at age 93, elevated the everyday lives of Black Americans and fought for representation in major museums
In His Garage, an Untrained Artist Created a Work of Sublime Divinity
How deep faith created one of the loveliest—and most curious—sacred objects in the Smithsonian collections
How Painting Portraits of Freedom Fighters Became William H. Johnson’s Life’s Work
A new exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum brings together the Black Modernist painter’s most famous series for the first time in more than 75 years
From the Inventor of Mass-Market Paper Bags to a Scientist Who Unraveled the Mysteries of Polio, Meet Five American Women Whose Remarkable Achievements Have Long Been Overlooked
The inaugural exhibition at the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum seeks to shine light on lesser-known historical figures
This Is When Washington, D.C.’s Cherry Trees Are Predicted to Bloom This Year
“Peak bloom,” which typically falls in late March or early April, refers to the day when at least 70 percent of the trees have blossomed
Fantastical Art Joins Hundreds of Blooming Orchids to Shed Light on Conservation Efforts
Smithsonian Gardens’ 28th annual orchid exhibition is underway at the Kogod Courtyard
Twenty-Four Smithsonian Shows to See in 2024
Election-year items, truth serum, Nigerian art and a pioneering self-driving car are on display this year
Smithsonian Scholars Recommend Their Favorite Books of 2023
Curators and staffers satisfied their endless curiosity with novels, short stories, biographies, art collections and journalistic reporting
With Renovated Galleries, the Smithsonian Expands Its Approach to Contemporary American Art
The historic hall in the American Art Museum where President Abraham Lincoln held his second inaugural ball welcomes more diverse voices and visions
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