SAAM Stories

Detail of abstract painting showing red tiles of paint on a white background.
Explore the themes of Music and Nature in Composing Colors: Paintings by Alma Thomas.
A photograph of a woman.
Katie Hondorf
Public Affairs Specialist
Illustrated portrait of Sister Gertrude Morgan singing and playing the tambourine.
03/07/2024
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work.
Detail of a wooden carving of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores (Our Lady of Sorrows). She  is looking up and away with her hands clasped in prayer.
02/15/2024
Conservation methods reveal layers of history behind Puerto Rican Santos.
Briana Teran
Close up of the face of an African American woman looking off into the distance. Fists are raised behind her in a show of solidarity.
02/08/2024
Celebrating the renowned artist with a comic about her life and work.
Detail of abstract painting showing different bands of different colors.
A garden blooms in Alma Thomas's exuberant painting.
A photograph of a woman.
Katie Hondorf
Public Affairs Specialist
A photograph of a woman in front of artwork
01/22/2024
Making artful connections in the new year ahead
 Stephanie Stebich, SAAM's Margaret and Terry Stent Direction in the museum's Lincoln Gallery. Photo by Gene Young. 
Stephanie Stebich
The Margaret and Terry Stent Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery
Two dancers perform in SAAM's Kogod Courtyard
01/19/2024
Uncovering the memory and meaning of historic sites
SAAM
Abstract sculpture
12/21/2023
Head curator Randy Griffey remembers artist Richard Hunt, who died December 16, 2023
Photograph of Randall Griffey
Randall Griffey
Head Curator
Detail of an illustration of the artist Miriam Schapiro. She is surrounded by flowers.
Celebrating the art and life of artist Miriam Schapiro
Landscape of U.S. capital with marsh land in front of it.
12/04/2023
A look at landscapes in SAAM's collection and the wildlife that lives beyond the paintings
Brynn Garner
Detail of an artwork with quotes from the Book of Revelations.
Take a look into the visual art and musical legacy of Howard Finster
SAAM
A wide angle shot of six prints on the wall, divided by a hanging glass cylindrical artwork
11/20/2023
Drawing inspiration from traditional methods of collecting natural resources, artist Joe Feddersen serves as a voice for the Plateau peoples
SAAM
Illustration of the artist Wendy Red Star
11/15/2023
Celebrating the renowned artist whose work questions misconceptions around Native identity
A woven robe with fringe and patterns of brown, blue and white with a yellow border.
An in-depth look at the ceremonial robe Between Worlds (Child's Robe) by Lily Hope (Tlingit)
SAAM
Side by side artworks displaying symbols in a musical arrangement.
11/03/2023
Award winning composer Raven Chacon combines Diné (Navajo) worldviews with Western classical and avant-garde music traditions
SAAM
A group of students taking a selfie in front of a projected screen.
10/31/2023
Students at DC public schools create stories based on artworks in SAAM's collection
Illustration of a woman surrounded by flowers.
10/12/2023
Celebrating the renowned textile artist with a comic about her life and work
Bicycle sculpture with a neon artwork above it that reads "Pa-lan-te."
Exploring history, politics, and culture with Puerto Rican artist Miguel Luciano
SAAM