Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery

A marble gallery shows a neon sculpture of the United States across from an abstract painting
Welcome to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery

Explore the sweep of four centuries of the the American imagination at the nation's flagship museum for American art and craft. Dive into inspiring artworks, special exhibitions, and the reimagined collection — American Voices and Visions: Modern and Contemporary Art. Experience our offerings both online and in person at our two locations, including national educational programs, innovative research, video interviews with artists, virtual artist studio tours, lectures, and more. Admission is always free.

Featured Exhibitions

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Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice
March 8, 2024September 8, 2024
William H. Johnson's Fighters for Freedom series from the mid-1940s is a tribute to African American activists, scientists, teachers, and performers as well as international heads of state working to bring peace to the world.
Tour Dates
  • 1
    Smithsonian American Art Museum
    Washington, DC
    March 8, 2024September 8, 2024
  • 2
    Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum
    Miami, FL
    September 28, 2024January 5, 2025
A close up image of a white orchid in a multicolored container featuring an abstract design with purple, blue, yellow, pink and white colors. In the background are green plants held in matching multicolored containers featuring an abstract design in pink, white, purple and gold colors.
The Future of Orchids: Conservation and Collaboration
January 27, 2024April 28, 2024
This exhibition from Smithsonian Gardens features 200 varieties of orchids alongside works by contemporary multimedia artist Phaan Howng.
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Carrie Mae Weems: Looking Forward, Looking Back
September 22, 2023 — July 72024 
This focused exhibition pairs two projects by Carrie Mae Weems—a major multimedia installation and a series of photographs—that revisit moments from history.
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Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas
September 15, 2023June 2, 2024
The exhibition Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas provides an intimate view of Alma Thomas’ evolving artistic practices during her most prolific period from 1959 to her death in 1978.
Tour Dates
  • 1
    Denver Art Museum
    Denver, CO
    September 8, 2024January 12, 2025
J. P. Ball, Unidentified sitter, 1858–60, daguerreotype
J. P. Ball and Robert S. Duncanson: An African American Artistic Collaboration
September 15, 2023March 24, 2024
This focused exhibition pairs artwork by two Black artists working in the mid-nineteenth century—photographer J. P. Ball and painter Robert S. Duncanson.
Artist Lily Hope with an ornamental headdress
Sharing Honors and Burdens: Renwick Invitational 2023
May 26, 2023-March 312024 
Artists Joe Feddersen (Arrow Lakes/Okanagan), Lily Hope (Tlingit), Ursala Hudson (Tlingit), Erica Lord (Athabaskan/Iñupiat), Geo Neptune (Passamaquoddy), and Maggie Thompson (Fond du Lac Ojibwe) present a fresh and nuanced vision of Native American art.

Audio Guides

Experience the Museum Your Way

Smartify's free personalized tours are tailored to your interests and the time you have available. Simply answer a couple of quick questions and we'll hand pick a collection of unmissable objects and captivating stories just for you.

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Upcoming Featured Events

Featured Stories

Detail of an artwork showing children holding an American flag.
An item that most people carry in their pockets is key to experiencing Hank Willis Thomas's Pledge.
SAAM
Detail of abstract painting showing red tiles of paint on a white background.
Explore the themes of Music and Nature in Composing Colors: Paintings by Alma Thomas.
A photograph of a woman.
Katie Hondorf
Public Affairs Specialist
Illustrated portrait of Sister Gertrude Morgan singing and playing the tambourine.
03/07/2024
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work.
Detail of a wooden carving of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores (Our Lady of Sorrows). She  is looking up and away with her hands clasped in prayer.
02/15/2024
Conservation methods reveal layers of history behind Puerto Rican Santos.
Briana Teran
Close up of the face of an African American woman looking off into the distance. Fists are raised behind her in a show of solidarity.
02/08/2024
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work.
Detail of abstract painting showing different bands of different colors.
A garden blooms in Alma Thomas's exuberant painting.
A photograph of a woman.
Katie Hondorf
Public Affairs Specialist

New Acquisitions

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Pledge
Date2018
screenprint on retroflective vinyl mounted on aluminum composite
On view
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Lincoln, Lonnie, and Me — A Story in 5 Parts
Date2012
video installation and mixed media, color, sound; 18:29 minutes
On view
Untitled (Première Carte Pour L’Introduction A L’Histoire…
Date2022
oil and acrylic on archival printed canvas
On view
Media - 2023.6.1 - SAAM-2023.6.1_1 - 146902
Floating Clouds
Date1944
oil on canvas
Not on view