Exhibitions

Newsroom of the Smithsonian

View news releases below or see all of our publicly released upcoming exhibitions.

Church, Natural Bridge

Frederic Edwin Church. “The Natural Bridge, Virginia,” 1852, oil on canvas, 28 x 23 in. The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia, gift of Thomas Fortune Ryan.

“Alexander von Humboldt and the United States: Art, Nature and Culture” Explores Renowned Naturalist’s Impact on American Identity
Smithsonian American Art Museum Is the Sole Venue for the Landmark Exhibition
09.14.2020
American Art Museum Exhibitions
Portrait of John Lewis
Copyright: Michael Shane Neal
The Struggle for Justice

“Congressman John Lewis” by Michael Shane Neal, oil on linen, 2020. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift from Jeffery and Cynthia Loring in memory of Congressman John Lewis. Copyright: Michael Shane Neal

 

Download (2.03 MB)
Portrait of Lincoln
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
America’s Presidents

“Abraham Lincoln” by George Peter Alexander Healy, oil on canvas, 1887. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; transfer from the National Gallery of Art; gift of the A.W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust, 1942

 

Download (187.01 KB)
Oil painting of four old gentlemen
Courtesy The Danish Museum of National History
Portraits of the World: Denmark

“Kunstdommere (Art Judges)” by Michael Ancher, oil on canvas,1906. The Danish Museum of National History, Frederiksborg Castle, Hillerød, Denmark

 

Download (531.68 KB)
Portrait of Toni Morrison
Copyright: Robert McCurdy
Visionary: The Cumming Family Collection

“Untitled (Toni Morrison)” by Robert McCurdy, oil on canvas, 2006. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Ian M. and Annette P. Cumming. Copyright: Robert McCurdy

Download (23.85 KB)
Portrait of Lorraine Hansbury
Copyright: David Attie
Her Story: A Century of Women Writers

“Lorraine Hansberry” by David Attie, gelatin silver print, 1959. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. Copyright: David Attie

 

Download (243.14 KB)
Close up of hands holding rope

Credit: “Birthright” by Maren Hassinger, video, color, sound, (12:12 mins), 2005. Edition of 3 plus 2 artist’s proofs. Courtesy of Susan Inglett Gallery, NYC.

National Portrait Gallery Has Announced “Birthright” by Maren Hassinger
A Commission of the Portrait Gallery’s “IDENTIFY” Series Dedicated to Performance Art
09.09.2020
Portrait Gallery Exhibitions
shrouded planes at Udvar-Hazy hangar

National Air and Space Museum

National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center Announces Roof-Reconstruction Project
06.26.2020
Air and Space Museum Exhibitions Administrative News
shrouded planes in hangar
National Air and Space Museum
Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center

The National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, began construction to repair and resurface the exterior roof of its Boeing Aviation Hangar in April.

Download (2.15 MB)
National Air and Space Museum
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

The National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, began construction to repair and resurface the exterior roof of its Boeing Aviation Hangar in April.

Download (1.99 MB)
Video still of Martin Luther King in convertible
Courtesy of Arthur Jafa and Gavin Brown’s enterprise, New York/ Rome
Arthur Jafa, "Love is the Message, The Message is Death"

Film Still

Arthur Jafa, Love is the Message, The Message is Death, 2016

Video, color and black-and-white, sound. Running time: 7 minutes, 30 seconds

Courtesy of Arthur Jafa and Gavin Brown’s enterprise, New York/ Rome

Download (2.41 MB)
Video still of Martin Luther King with Getty Images superimposed

Courtesy of Arthur Jafa and Gavin Brown’s enterprise, New York/ Rome

Artist Arthur Jafa’s Renowned “Love is the Message, The Message is Death” To Be Streamed Continuously Online for the First Time, June 26–28
Co-Presented by the Hirshhorn Museum and the Smithsonian American Art Museum
06.24.2020
American Art Museum Hirshhorn Museum Exhibitions Public Programs
Portrait of man in red head scarf and black shirt saying Muerto Rico
National Portrait Gallery Announces Artist ADÁL as Winner of “The Outwin 2019” People’s Choice Award
More Than 17,000 Votes Cast, Setting Triennial’s Record
04.30.2020
Portrait Gallery Exhibitions Public Programs
Red masked man wearing black shirt saying Muerto Rico
Copyright: ADÁL.
Muerto Rico

“Muerto Rico” by ADÁL, inkjet print, 2017. Collection of the artist. Copyright: ADÁL.

Download (1.48 MB)
Man and woman relaxing on couch with young child
Photo by Tailyr Irvine
Developing Stories: Antoine and Drennan

Tiana Antoine and Nathan Drennan relax with their niece. Flathead Indian Reservation, Montana. 2019. Photo Copyright Tailyr Irvine.

 

Download (4.17 MB)
Two people holding a sonogram between them
Photo by Tailyr Irvine
Developing Stories: Irvine and Nelson

Micheal Irvine and Leah Nelson hold their daughter’s sonogram. Flathead Indian Reservation, Montana. 2019. Photo copyright Tailyr Irvine.

Download (3.6 MB)
Woman dressed in purple carrying infant
Photo by Tailyr Irvine.
Developing Stories: Leah Nelson

Leah Nelson brings her newborn into the woods for the first time. Flathead Indian Reservation, Montana. 2019. Photo copyright Tailyr Irvine.

Download (9.43 MB)
Suffrage Pen

This gold pen was used to sign the congressional joint amendment that enacted the Nineteenth Amendment in 1919. Photo by Jaclyn Nash.

Smithsonian Marks 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage
“Creating Icons” Exhibition To Mark the Centennial of the 19th Amendment
03.04.2020
American History Museum Exhibitions
Laurie Anderson

Laurie Anderson

Hirshhorn Presents Groundbreaking Artist Laurie Anderson’s Largest US Exhibition to Date
“Laurie Anderson: The Weather” Surveys Pioneering Videos, Large-Scale Commissions and VR Experience, May 19–Sept. 7
02.27.2020
Museums and Zoo Hirshhorn Museum Exhibitions
Frankie and Lopez holding religious icon
@ Russel Albert Daniels, 2019
Developing Stories: Frankie and Lopez

Genízaro Mayordomos Frankie and Carmen Lopez holding Santo Tomas bulto, Abiquiú, New Mexico. Photo @ Russel Albert Daniels, 2019.

Download (160.14 KB)
Archuleta sitting on a rock
Photo @ Russel Albert Daniels, 2019.
Developing Stories: Archuleta

Genízaro Maurice Archuleta in the high desert surrounding Abiquiú. Photo @ Russel Albert Daniels, 2019.

Download (266.09 KB)
Garcis standing in ruins of old church
Photo @ Russel Albert Daniels, 2019
Developing Stories: Garcia

Genízaro Delvin Garcia standing in remains of 18th century Santa Rosa de Lima Church, Abiquiú, New Mexico.  Photo @ Russel Albert Daniels, 2019.

Download (162.1 KB)
Archuleta

Genízaro Maurice Archuleta in the high desert surrounding Abiquiú. Photo @ Russel Albert Daniels, 2019.

New Exhibition Series Highlighting the Work of Native Photojournalists Opens March 24 at the National Museum of the American Indian
02.27.2020
American Indian Museum Exhibitions
Kobe Bryant

“Kobe Bean Bryant” by Rick Chapman, 2007. Selenium-toned gelatin silver print. National Portrait Gallery,

Smithsonian Institution; gift of the artist and ESPN. ©2007 Rick Chapman

National Portrait Gallery Presents a Portrait of the Late Kobe Bryant
01.27.2020
Portrait Gallery Exhibitions

Pages