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

View All Exhibitions
Quilt with a colorful, abstract pattern. At the center is a dark blue square with a black star as its border.
Pattern and Paradox: The Quilts of Amish Women
March 28, 2024–August 26, 2024
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Explore the creative practice of Amish quilters in the United States.
Media - 1967.59.1146 - SAAM-1967.59.1146_2 - 141130
Fighters for Freedom: William H. Johnson Picturing Justice
March 8, 2024–September 8, 2024
Smithsonian American Art Museum
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 leaders working to bring peace to the world.
Tour Dates
  • 1
    Smithsonian American Art Museum
    Washington, DC
    March 8, 2024–September 8, 2024
  • 2
    Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum
    Miami, FL
    September 28, 2024–January 5, 2025
    • See all 7 stops
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, 2024–April 28, 2024
Smithsonian American Art Museum
This exhibition from Smithsonian Gardens features 200 varieties of orchids alongside works by contemporary multimedia artist Phaan Howng.
Media - 2023.9A-G - SAAM-2023.9A-G_1 - 147614
Carrie Mae Weems: Looking Forward, Looking Back
September 22, 2023 — July 7, 2024 
Smithsonian American Art Museum
This focused exhibition pairs two projects by Carrie Mae Weems—a major multimedia installation and a series of photographs—that revisit moments from history.
Alma Thomas, The Eclipse, 1970, acrylic on canvas
Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas
September 15, 2023–August 4, 2024
Smithsonian American Art Museum
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, 2024–January 12, 2025
Colorful multi-media vase
Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery
Ongoing
Renwick Gallery
SAAM’s branch location for contemporary craft, the Renwick Gallery, showcases the dynamic landscape of American craft today. Currently on view are more than 100 works in a range of mediums from fiber and ceramics to glass, metal, wood, and mixed media.

The Temple of Invention AR Experience

A woman uses her cellphone with an AR App
History Comes Alive

Before it was an art museum, SAAM’s historical building housed the patent office, the heart of America’s early drive to inspire innovation. Through this new AR game designed for the whole family, meet some of the fascinating people—including presidents, inventors, soldiers, poets, artists, and architects—who walked the halls of this “temple of invention.” This free experience is available for a limited time only so act fast! 

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.

Learn More
Get the App
Two cellphones showing various views of the Smartify app

Upcoming Featured Events

View All Events

Featured Stories

View All Stories
A photograph of a woman in front of artwork
From the Director
04/08/2024
Director's Letter: Spring Ahead
More visitors and new exhibitions highlight a season of change.
 Stephanie Stebich, SAAM's Margaret and Terry Stent Direction in the museum's Lincoln Gallery. Photo by Gene Young. 
Stephanie Stebich
The Margaret and Terry Stent Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery
Marian Anderson and symbols that surround her life
ExhibitionsFrom the Collection
04/05/2024
A Portrait of Marian Anderson
William H. Johnson portrayed the singer in multiple paintings, including in his Fighters for Freedom series.
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
A detail of a vibrant painting with a dark navy blue circle on the right surrounded by concentric circles of reds, oranges, and yellow.
ExhibitionsFrom the Collection
04/02/2024
Reflecting on the Natural Wonders of an Eclipse
As we gather to celebrate this year’s eclipse, Alma Thomas, whose painting The Eclipse is featured in SAAM's collection, noted the influence of natural phenomena on her work.
A photograph of a woman.
Katie Hondorf
Public Affairs Specialist
Detail of an illustration showing a person wearing glass art standing in front of a slatted fence. The text says "Border Stories."
Women Artists
03/27/2024
Drawn to Tanya Aguiñiga
Celebrating the renowned artist whose community-based practice involves interactions at the border.
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
Detail of an artwork showing children holding an American flag.
From the CollectionNew Acquisitions
03/18/2024
In Focus: Pledge
An item that most people carry in their pockets is key to experiencing Hank Willis Thomas's Pledge.
SAAM
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.
Conservation
02/15/2024
Conservation of Wooden Figures from the Vidal Collection
Conservation methods reveal layers of history behind Puerto Rican Santos.
Briana Teran

New Acquisitions

View All New Acquisitions
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
Artist
Date2018
screenprint on retroflective vinyl mounted on aluminum composite
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
Artist
Date2012
video installation and mixed media, color, sound; 18:29 minutes
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 (Premiere Carte Pour L’Introduction A L’Histoire…
Artist
Date2022
oil and acrylic on archival printed canvas
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
Artist
Date1944
oil on canvas
Not on view