From abstract art to scientific developments in courtrooms, the Smithsonian Institute offers a plethora of free exhibits to view throughout the summer. Visit the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Museum of American History, the Freer Gallery of Art, and others to see groundbreaking contributions to an ever-evolving cultural scene. Check out these collections before they close, and explore some upcoming exhibits.
Closing Exhibits
Carrie Mae Weems: Looking Forward, Looking Back
Closes July 7
The Smithsonian American Art Museum features two projects by artist Carrie Mae Weems that mold art and activism. Before this exhibit closes, view eight photographs from her series Constructing History and experience the multimedia installation of Lincoln, Lonnie, and Me – A Story in 5 Parts that features mixed media, color, and sound. Weems addresses racism, sexism, classism, colonialism, and xenophobia in these projects to convey moments of strength, pain, and progress. Smithsonian American Art Museum: Eighth and G Streets NW, Washington, DC, free
Music HerStory: Women and Music of Social Change
Closes July 21
Explore the groundbreaking contributions of women in music at the National Museum of American History. Music HerStory shares media collections from the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, the Center for Folklife and Culture Heritage, and around the Smithsonian. Ella Jenkins, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Dolly Parton, and other notable women are featured. National Museum of American History: 1300 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, free
Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas
Closes August 4
Before this exhibit leaves the Smithsonian American Art Museum, peruse the works of Alma Thomas and her vibrant, rhythmic approach to abstract painting. Nature, the cosmos, and music inspire her distinct style. With her art first entering the museum’s collection in 1970, she is considered a monumental American painter of the 20th century. Smithsonian American Art Museum: Eighth and G Streets NW, Washington, DC, free
Pattern and Paradox: The Quilts of Amish Women
Closes August 26
Quilting is recognized as much more than a utilitarian practice in this exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Pattern and Paradox showcases Amish quilters and how they promote both cultural and individual expression. These vintage quilts represent the historical, localized trends in Amish lifestyles, nearly a century later. Smithsonian American Art Museum: Eighth and G Streets NW, Washington, DC, free
Upcoming Exhibits
Bruce Onobrakpeya: The Mask and the Cross
June 21–January 21, 2025
This presentation includes the earliest commissions of Fourteen Stations of the Cross by celebrated Nigerian sculptor and printmaker Bruce Onobrakpeya. Onobrakpeya began this collection of Christian iconography, murals, and prints in the late 1960s and continued through 1978. National Museum of African Art: 950 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC, free
Forensic Science on Trial
June 28–June 2025
Travel back in time to investigate how forensic science is used in the pursuit of justice through historic cases. Spanning more than 150 years of trials, the National Museum of American History features artifacts that represent over a dozen different techniques, including arsenic tests, polygraphs, and modern apparatus. National Museum of American History: 1300 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC, free
Shifting Boundaries: Perspectives on American Landscapes
July 13–July 26, 2026
This exhibit showcases beautiful paintings of New England landscapes by American painters Willard Metcalf, Dwight Tryon, Winslow Homer, and Abbott Thayer. View pasturelands in Massachusetts and seascapes in Maine. Freer Gallery of Art: Jefferson Drive and 12th St. SW, Washington, DC, free
Voting by Mail: Civil War to COVID-19
August 24–February 23, 2025
Examine and reflect on past examples of national voting by mail, from the mid-19th century to the pandemic. Objects include a mailed tally sheet from 1864, a 5-cent postage stamp, and a complete absentee ballot kit from the 2020 presidential election. National Postal Museum: 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC, free
Feature image by Willard Metcalf, Freer Gallery of Art Collection
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