SAAM Stories

Sculpture of a person completely covered with multiple colorful, intricate patterns standing against a dark red wall with the exhibition title "The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture."
African American Art Asian American Art 11/08/2024
The Shape of Power in American Art
A new exhibition explores how the history of race in the United States is entwined in the history of American sculpture.
SAAM
Teachers use rolled pieces of paper as telescopes.
Education 11/05/2024
Teachers from Rural Communities Find Inspiration at SAAM
SAAM's Education Department serves teachers and students in rural communities.
A photograph of Phoebe Hillemann
Phoebe Hillemann
Teacher Institutes Educator
A man turns the nobs of a box sitting atop a small black and white tv monitor.
Time-Based Media Conservation 10/25/2024
See You Later, Wobbulator
Connecting artist Nam June Paik, his archive at SAAM, conservation, and SAAM's video game program
SAAM
Embroidered tapestry with the Virgen de Guadalupe in the center, flowers around the frame, and barbed wire slashing through the middle of the work.
Latinx Art Contemporary Craft 10/04/2024
Spinning Yarns
How Consuelo Jimenez Underwood weaves lived experiences into her artwork.
Amy Fox
Social Media and Digital Content Specialist
A quilt with large, concentric squares hang in a gallery. Quilts are mounted on the wall behind it.
Exhibitions From the Collection 08/16/2024
The Artistry of Amish Quilts
Exploring SAAM's collection of stunning Amish quilts
SAAM
Highly decorative wooden bench.
From the Collection Women Artists 08/09/2024
Have a Seat: A Bench for Resting and Imagining
Explore artist Rachel David's functional artwork created for SAAM's Renwick Gallery.
Elana Hain
Detail of a quilt featuring images of Martin Luther King Jr.
African American Art Contemporary Craft 08/02/2024
Lacing Together Humanity Through Fiber Art
Artist L’Merchie Frazier threads thoughtful parallels to centuries of fiber art traditions.
A photograph of a woman.
Katie Hondorf
Public Affairs Specialist
Audrey Flack sits in a chair. Her hand is on a skull.
From the Collection One Smithsonian 07/17/2024
Artist Audrey Flack’s Legacy
A look into the long career of renowned artist Audrey Flack.
SAAM
Illustration of a girl sitting in front of a canvas. She is painting a portrait.
Women Artists 07/11/2024
Drawn to Lilly Martin Spencer
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work.
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
Print of a hot dog bridge under a rainbow.
From the Collection 07/02/2024
Fourth of July Journey Through American Art
Whatever your plans for America's birthday, we have an artwork to fit. Pour yourself a lemonade, find a spot in the shade, and enjoy your holiday with a dash of American art.
Amy Fox
Social Media and Digital Content Specialist
Illustration of a woman surrounded by flowers and a rainbow motif.
Asian American Art Pride 06/27/2024
Drawn to Chitra Ganesh
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and art.
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
Two visitors look at a timeline on a wall. Behind them is a painting hanging on a blue wall and the words "Fighters for Freedom" with text underneath.
African American Art Exhibitions 06/18/2024
Who Are Today's Fighters for Freedom?
SAAM's educators invite students and visitors to reflect on William H. Johnson's portraits and make connections to our world today.
Emily Berg
A photograph of Phoebe Hillemann
Phoebe Hillemann
Teacher Institutes Educator
Detail of fiber art with a silhouette of woman. Her arms and one leg are raised as if mid-jump.
Women Artists 06/13/2024
Sisterhood of Sublime Fiber Artists
Artists and visitors mingled at the Subversive, Skilled, Sublime: Fiber Art Open House
A photograph of a woman.
Katie Hondorf
Public Affairs Specialist
Illustration showing a person with short, brown hair. They are holding a camera up to their face.
Pride Women Artists 06/06/2024
Drawn to Laura Aguilar
Laura Aguilar challenged accepted standards of beauty and represented the LGBTQ+ community, becoming one of the most influential Chicana photographers of her generation.
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
Two people in 60s mod clothing face each other. They stand in a gray, gauzy space.
From the Collection Pride 05/31/2024
In Focus: Clubbing
Martine Gutierrez’s work is an ode to the importance of dance floors as places for self-discovery and community building
SAAM
Sculpture of a woman. Massive antlers on her head cradle a delicate, translucent adult figure in a fetal position, like a creature preparing to emerge from its cocoon. Scattered on the ground below are antlers.
Exhibitions From the Collection 05/24/2024
Artist Alison Saar's Self-Awakening
Exploring the personal transformation reflected in her artwork Rouse.
SAAM
An art conservator holds a vacuum nozzle on a piece of artwork.
From the Collection Conservation 05/01/2024
Caring for an American Art Treasure
A peek into the world of conservation and the meticulous care of James Hampton’s The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations Millennium General Assembly.
Photo Anna Nielsen
Anna Nielsen
Conservation Program Coordinator
Eliza Macdonald
Katya Zinsli
Detail of illustrated portrait of Emma Amos.
Women Artists 04/26/2024
Drawn to Emma Amos
Painter, printmaker, and textile artist Emma Amos created colorful multi-media works that explore themes of identity.
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer