The Smithsonian Institution is one of the largest museums in the world, with over 137 million objects. It’s also home to some of the most iconic pieces of art from around the world. The Smithsonian includes 19 museums, nine research centers, and a zoo. Does this museum have art? Absolutely!
The Smithsonian Museum of American Art houses more than 7,000 works of art from the colonial period to today. These works span a wide range of media including painting, sculpture, prints and drawings, photographs, folk art and contemporary craft. The museum’s collection is particularly strong in American Impressionism and Ashcan School works as well as African American art and modernist works.
The Freer Gallery of Art at the Smithsonian is home to some of the best examples of Asian art in the United States. It houses an impressive collection of Chinese jades and bronzes as well as Korean ceramics, Japanese screens and scrolls and other Asian artifacts from India, Southeast Asia and Central Asia. There are also rotating exhibitions that showcase contemporary Asian artists from around the world.
The National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian features portraits from famous painters such as John Singer Sargent, Thomas Eakins and Gilbert Stuart. These portraits span centuries of American history – from colonial times to modern day – to tell stories about influential figures who shaped our nation’s culture. The National Portrait Gallery also features special exhibitions that explore themes such as identity, race and gender through portraiture.
The Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden at the Smithsonian is dedicated to modern and contemporary art in all its forms – painting, sculpture, installation pieces and more. This museum houses works by renowned artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Mark Rothko and Jeff Koons as well as a large outdoor sculpture garden featuring large-scale installations by artists like Anish Kapoor and Yayoi Kusama.
Conclusion:
Yes – The Smithsonian Institution does have a variety of artwork on display. From paintings at the Museum of American Art to sculptures at the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden – there’s something for everyone at this iconic institution!