Smithsonian American Art Museum

Smithsonian American Art Museum. The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American Art was established in 1829, with a collection of American art that includes works by John Singleton Copley, Gilbert Stuart, and John Trumbull. The museum's collection has grown to include over 15,000 works of art, with pieces by Georgia O'Keeffe, Edward Hopper, and Andy Warhol. The museum is located in the Penn Quarter neighborhood of Washington, D.C., near the National Mall and the United States Capitol.

● History

The museum's history began with the collection of John Varden, a Washington, D.C. banker and art collector, who donated his collection to the Smithsonian Institution in 1829. The collection was initially housed in the United States Patent Office building, which was designed by Robert Mills and Thomas Ustick Walter. In 1906, the collection was moved to the National Museum Building, which was designed by James Renwick Jr. and Daniel Burnham. The museum has also been supported by Andrew Mellon, John D. Rockefeller Jr., and Paul Mellon, who have all made significant donations to the museum. The museum has been led by directors such as John Walker, Joshua Taylor, and Elizabeth Broun, who have all played a role in shaping the museum's collection and exhibitions.

● Collections

The museum's collections include over 15,000 works of art, with pieces by Winslow Homer, Mary Cassatt, and Grant Wood. The collection also includes works by African American artists such as Jacob Lawrence, Romare Bearden, and Faith Ringgold. The museum has a strong collection of American folk art, with pieces by Edward Hicks, Ammi Phillips, and Ralph Fasanella. The collection also includes works by Latin American artists such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and Jose Clemente Orozco. The museum has also acquired works by Native American artists such as George Morrison, Kay WalkingStick, and T.C. Cannon. The collection is not limited to painting and sculpture, but also includes photography by Ansel Adams, Dorothea Lange, and Gordon Parks.

● Buildings

The museum is located in the Penn Quarter neighborhood of Washington, D.C., in a building designed by Pope and Associates. The building was completed in 2006 and features a glass and steel exterior, with a courtyard and a roof garden. The museum also has a second building, the Renwick Gallery, which is located near the White House and was designed by James Renwick Jr.. The Renwick Gallery was built in 1859 and features a Second Empire-style design, with a mansard roof and a clock tower. The museum's buildings have been recognized with awards such as the American Institute of Architects' Honor Award and the National Building Museum's Henry C. Turner Prize.

● Exhibitions

The museum has hosted a wide range of exhibitions, including shows on American modernism, abstract expressionism, and pop art. The museum has also hosted exhibitions on African American art, Latin American art, and Native American art. The museum's exhibitions have featured works by artists such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Mark Rothko. The museum has also hosted exhibitions on photography, including shows on Ansel Adams and Dorothea Lange. The museum's exhibitions have been recognized with awards such as the National Endowment for the Arts' NEA Award and the American Alliance of Museums' Exhibition Award.

● Education_and_Research

The museum offers a wide range of educational programs, including lectures, workshops, and tours. The museum also offers fellowships and internships for students and scholars, including the Smithsonian Fellowship Program and the National Museum of American Art Internship Program. The museum's research library is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the country, with a collection of over 180,000 volumes, including works by John James Audubon, Thomas Eakins, and Mary Cassatt. The museum also publishes a journal, American Art, which features articles on American art and art history. The museum has also partnered with other institutions, such as the National Gallery of Art and the Library of Congress, to offer joint programs and exhibitions.

● Conservation

The museum has a strong commitment to conservation and preservation, with a team of conservators and scientists who work to preserve and conserve the museum's collections. The museum's conservation lab is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including X-ray fluorescence and infrared reflectography. The museum has also developed a number of innovative conservation techniques, including the use of nanotechnology and 3D printing. The museum has conserved works by artists such as Winslow Homer and Georgia O'Keeffe, and has also worked to conserve and preserve historic buildings and monuments, including the United States Capitol and the Washington Monument. The museum's conservation efforts have been recognized with awards such as the American Institute for Conservation's Conservation Award and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Preservation Award. Category:Art museums in the United States