SAAM Stories

A large-scale throne made of found objects.
From the Collection 12/16/2021
Taking a Closer Look at James Hampton’s The Throne of the Third Heaven
Our video series American Art Moments takes a closer look at a powerful yet enigmatic installation in SAAM’s collection by a self-taught artist
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
Musician Drew Dave sits on a porch wearing a black hat and black t shirt.
Luce Foundation Center Five Question Interviews 12/14/2021
Podcast Release: Music and Conversation with Drew Dave
Producer Drew Dave discusses his approach to making beats and how working with one of his heroes changed his self-image.
Anne Wilsey
Program Specialist for the Luce Foundation Center
A Byzantine necklace
Exhibitions From the Collection 12/08/2021
The Mystery Around a Byzantine-style Necklace
Uncovering the secrets of one of SAAM’s treasures
A photograph of a woman standing in an art gallery with busts behind her.
Ariel O'Connor
Objects Conservator
Sarah Montonchaikul
Portrait of a woman with blood dripping form her head.
Programs Women Artists 11/30/2021
Body and Blood in Ana Mendieta’s Filmwork
Learn about the legacy of groundbreaking artist Ana Mendieta and how she examined urgent political, personal, and artistic questions through her artwork
This is a photograph of curator Saisha Grayson
Saisha Grayson
Curator of Time-Based Media
Dark starry night sky
From the Collection 11/26/2021
Black Friday Art Browsing
Not to be shady, but sometimes the cure for Black Friday stress is art
Amy Fox
Social Media and Digital Content Specialist
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
Large scale installation of fabric made of woven linen with madder dye, on a wodden board.
Contemporary Craft Women Artists 11/18/2021
Sonya Clark’s “Monumental” Achievements
Examining historical imbalances and the roots of racial injustice through fiber art
Photograph of Nora Atkinson by Libby Weiler.
Nora Atkinson
The Fleur and Charles Bresler Curator-in-Charge, Renwick Gallery
A close up crop of a screenprint of Frida Kahlo's face.
Chicano Graphics Education 11/15/2021
Bringing Chicanx Stories Into the Classroom Through Art
Museum educators share Chicanx posters with teachers around the world
A photograph of Anne Showalter in front of Superhighway.
Anne Showalter
Digital Interpretation Specialist
Landscape of mountains with Native motifs overlayed.
From the Collection Women Artists 11/10/2021
Kay WalkingStick and the Indigenous Presence in American Landscape Painting
A look at three paintings that represent three different decades of the artist’s vibrant career
A photograph of Melissa Ho by Jeff Elkins
Melissa Ho
Curator (20th-Century Art)
Diorama showing a miniaturized corner of a room with small paintings and glass
Exhibitions From the Collection 11/04/2021
Decorative Arts in Focus: Miniature Diorama of John Gellatly Collection
How John Gellatly’s eclectic collection of fine and decorative arts took over his New York home and six rooms in the Heckscher Building
A photograph of a woman.
Katie Hondorf
Public Affairs Specialist
open egg shaped basket with flash drive inside
Contemporary Craft Exhibitions 11/02/2021
Native American Arts in Focus: Sustaining Traditions—Digital Memories
Discover how artist Kelly Church is ensuring that centuries of Indigenous traditions are preserved for future generations with her beautifully woven basketry.
Ashley Reese
The four musicians of the band Rosie Cima and What She Dreamed stand with their arms around eachother in a room full of framed pictures.
Luce Foundation Center Five Question Interviews 10/28/2021
Podcast Release: Music and Conversation with Rosie Cima
Rosie Cima of Rosie Cima and What She Dreamed discusses her welcome to DC’s music community and her approach to keeping it real in front of an audience.
Anne Wilsey
Program Specialist for the Luce Foundation Center
Sculpture that shows gold skeleton hands reaching around a gold skull that is wearing rose-colored glasses.
From the Collection 10/27/2021
Are You Feeling Spooky or Soulful This Season?
Choose how to celebrate the season with two different ways to explore SAAM's collection
Headshot of woman with black hair
Rebekah Mejorado
Public Relations Specialist
Illustration of a woman standing in a garden, holding a paintbrush.
Women Artists 10/26/2021
Drawn to Maria Oakey Dewing
Celebrating Maria Oakey Dewing with a comic about her life and work
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
A detail of a sculpture of fiberglass fists painted gold
10/22/2021
What Happens When an Artist Meets an Olympian?
Evoking Tommie Smith's legacy through a work of monumental sculpture
Photo of Sarah Newman by John DeWolf.
Sarah Newman
James Dicke Curator of Contemporary Art
A woman in a blue mask standing in front of plants.
From the Director 10/22/2021
Representation and the Many-Layered Stories of American Art
Stephanie Stebich, the Margaret and Terry Stent Director, talks about how a variety of voices are represented in SAAM’s collections, galleries, and programming to reflect the complexity of American stories.
 Stephanie Stebich, Former Margaret and Terry Stent Direction in the museum's Lincoln Gallery. Photo by Gene Young. 
Stephanie Stebich
Former Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum
collection of neon lights with stuffed animals and computer parts bundled together
Contemporary Craft Exhibitions 10/19/2021
Contemporary Glass Art Exhibition Brings Fresh Global Perspectives to the Renwick Gallery
New Glass Now showcases artists challenging the status quo, offering new perspectives, and experimenting with what the medium of glass can do!
Ashley Reese
Detail from a painting. Orange and blue organic shapes on a dark blue background.
Exhibitions 10/15/2021
When Kusama Met Cornell
On the surprising friendship between artists Yayoi Kusama and Joseph Cornell
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer
An illustration of a woman standing in front of a wall of colorful, abstract art.
Women Artists 10/06/2021
Drawn to Carmen Herrera
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work.
A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane.
Howard Kaplan
Writer