Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Allure of Self-Taught Art
SAAM’s new show “We Are Made of Stories” examines the 20th-century rise and creative vision of artists who make art without formal training
After More Than 150 Years, Sculptor Edmonia Lewis Finally Gets Her Degree
A historian is fighting to honor the legacy of the 19th-century artist
The Lost Story of Lexington, the Record-Breaking Thoroughbred, Races Back to Life
For her latest novel “Horse,” the Pulitzer-prize winning author Geraldine Brooks found inspiration in the Smithsonian collections
The Craft World Is Undergoing a Democratization
In a new show at the Renwick Gallery, maker’s art is having a renaissance moment, with works that reveal powerful persistence and resilience
When Cleopatra Died Again
The artwork by Edmonia Lewis, the first African American sculptor in the classical mode, epitomizes her immense talent
Was Georgia O'Keeffe's Genius Appreciated Outside of America? And More Questions From Our Readers
You've got questions. We've got experts.
Twenty-Two Smithsonian Shows to See in 2022
Falcon hunting, Watergate, a Kusama mirror room and the new Latino Gallery await
Getting a Taste of Wayne Thiebaud
An exhibit in California examines the full, delicious spread of the American artist's work
Smithsonian Scholars Pick Their Favorite Books of 2021
The writings of many fine authors support the research and ambitious undertakings of an Institution rising to the challenges ahead
Two New Shows Reflect the Shining Versatility of Glass
Thrilling innovations at the Renwick mirror SAAM’s exquisite historical survey of the Venetian masters and their influences
This Arshile Gorky Painting Spent 70 Years Hidden in Plain Sight
Experts discovered a sea-blue canvas by the Armenian American artist concealed beneath another one of his works on paper
Commemorate 9/11 With Free Virtual Programs, Resources From the Smithsonian
Here's how the American History Museum, the National Postal Museum and more are reflecting on the tragedy
The Art of Remembering 9/11
Learn about five artworks in SAAM's collection and the stories they tell us about 9/11
Mickalene Thomas' Dazzling Collages Reclaim Black Women's Bodies
A four-part exhibition premiering this fall showcases the contemporary artist's multimedia portrayals of Black femininity
Chuck Close, Artist Whose Photorealist Portraits Captivated America, Dies at 81
The painter, who faced accusations of sexual harassment later in life, continuously changed his artistic style
New Collection of Portraits Presents the Diversity of 19th-Century American Photography
Smithsonian American Art Museum announces major acquisition of the works of Black photographers James P. Ball, Glenalvin Goodridge and Augustus Washington
This Week, the Popular SAAM Arcade Is Game On for Video Game Makers
Chris Totten reflects on how the gaming community around SAAM Arcade has grown since the first event debuted seven years ago
How Artists Challenge Mythic Conceptions of the American West
Forty-eight modern and contemporary artists who are reclaiming the narratives of their region
Why Germany's Newly Opened Humboldt Forum Is So Controversial
Critics cite the Berlin museum's ties to the country's colonialist past
Alma Thomas' Boundary-Breaking Art Takes Center Stage
The first Black woman to headline a solo show at the Whitney, the artist created abstract paintings, marionettes and more
