Past Exhibitions | Smithsonian Institution

Red: Ming Dynasty/Mark Rothko

Created more than five centuries apart, an imperial Chinese porcelain dish and a painting by Mark Rothko—unexpectedly brought together in visual dialogue—reveal the immensity of the color red.

September 3, 2016 – February 20, 2017

Asian Art Museum, East Building

In the Groove: Jazz Portraits by Herman Leonard

This exhibition from the collection of the National Portrait Gallery features Leonard’s iconic images of jazz legends such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Thelonious Monk, and Sarah Vaughan.

August 5, 2016 – February 20, 2017

Portrait Gallery

Notes from the Desert: Photographs by Gauri Gill

Since the late 1990s, Gauri Gill has been photographing marginalized communities in western Rajasthan, India. Featuring nearly sixty of her prints, this exhibition showcases Gill's work in the remote desert region.

September 17, 2016 – February 12, 2017

Asian Art Museum, East Building

Model of the National Museum of African American History and Culture

The architectural design model submitted by Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroupJJR to the Museum design competition in 2011 is on view.

September 16, 2016 – January 31, 2017

Smithsonian Castle

Emeka Ogboh's Market Symphony

Nigerian artist Emeka Ogboh brings his internationally recognized sound art to the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in the new work Market Symphony.

February 3, 2016 – January 31, 2017

African Art Museum

The Norie Atlas and the Guano Trade

This display will highlight John Norie's unique Marine Atlas, a large bound book of sea charts dating to the early 19th century, within the historical context of the guano and nitrate trades, in which many of the swiftest and strongest American square-rigged sailing ships were employed.

February 17, 2016 – January 29, 2017

American History Museum

Muppets and Puppets

In time for the winter holidays, this showcase presents a selection of Muppets and marionetts from the museum’s collection illustrating the evolution of puppetry.

November 23, 2016 – January 22, 2017

American History Museum

Toys and Childhood

This showcase presents a selection of cast-iron and tinplate toys from the museum’s collection dating from the 1870s to the 1950s, illustrating the ever-evolving nature of American childhood and home life and bringing to light aspects of play.

November 20, 2015 – January 22, 2017

American History Museum

Laughing Matters

Artifacts from two famous comediennes—Carol Burnett and Phyllis Diller—and Miss Piggy herself take center stage in a display that examines how comedy can express contemporary concerns.

July 22, 2016 – January 22, 2017

American History Museum

Fragile Beasts

Fragile Beasts features nearly 75 ornament prints and drawings from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The exhibition highlights rarely seen works on paper from Cooper Hewitt’s permanent collection, as well as several books from Cooper Hewitt’s rare book collection.

June 11, 2016 – January 16, 2017

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum

Visions and Revisions: Renwick Invitational 2016

The seventh installment of the Renwick Gallery's biennial series celebrates artists deserving of wider national recognition presents the work of Steven Young Lee, Kristen Morgin, Jennifer Trask, and Norwood Viviano.

September 9, 2016 – January 16, 2017

Renwick Gallery

From Royal Mail to Public Post

To mark the United Kingdom postal service's 500th anniversary, a temporary display of original documents from 1635 and 1840 is presented.

October 21, 2016 – January 16, 2017

Postal Museum

A New Moon Rises: New Views from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera

A New Moon Rises showcases breathtaking images from Apollo landing sites to majestic mountains that rise out of the darkness of the lunar poles.

February 26, 2016 – January 10, 2017

Air and Space Museum

In Memoriam: John Glenn

The National Portrait Gallery celebrates the accomplishments of astronaut and Senator John Glenn with a watercolor and graphite portrait by Henry C. Caselli Jr.

December 9, 2016 – January 9, 2017

Portrait Gallery

The Outwin 2016: American Portraiture Today

Every three years the National Portrait Gallery invites artists from across the nation to submit their best works of portrayal. Jurors select the finest works that showcase mastery and innovation in the form.

March 12, 2016 – January 8, 2017

Portrait Gallery

Ragnar Kjartansson

This comprehensive mid-career survey of Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson charts his wide-ranging practice across film, performance, painting, and drawing.

October 14, 2016 – January 8, 2017

Hirshhorn Museum

E Mau Ke Ea: The Sovereign Hawaiian Nation

This exhibitions takes visitors through the history of the Hawaiian Nation, from the consolidation of the islands by King Kamehameha I, through annexation, to the rise of the Hawaiian rights movement in the late 1960s and the resurgence of Hawaiian nationalism today.

January 17, 2016 – January 2, 2017

American Indian Museum DC

Bird House

The National Zoo is home to hundreds of birds from all over the world.

1928 – January 2, 2017

National Zoo

Heirloom Garden

The Heirloom Garden is a treasury of favorites from what may be considered the classic American flower garden.

1998 – December 31, 2016

Smithsonian Gardens

Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains

This exhibition reflects the dynamic tradition of narrative art among Native nations from the Great Plains. The exhibition traces the evolution of the art form from historic hides, muslins, and ledger books to more than 50 contemporary works commissioned by the museum.

March 12, 2016 – December 4, 2016

American Indian Museum New York

Art of the Airport Tower

Smithsonian photographer Carolyn Russo elevates airport towers to beautiful objects of art.

November 11, 2015 – November 30, 2016

Air and Space Museum

Cyrus Field and the Transatlantic Telegraph Cable

Using Archives Center collection materials, this display commemorates American businessman and financier Cyrus Field’s accomplishment in laying the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable in July 1866.

July 1, 2016 – November 27, 2016

American History Museum

Giving in America

The Giving in America display explores civic philanthropy over the past century. In the 21st century, private giving continues to shape our culture and communities.

December 1, 2015 – November 21, 2016

American History Museum

Hooray for Politics!

This display juxtaposes historic voting devices with contemporary candidate rally signs to encourage our visitors to reflect on the relationship between the nation’s democratic traditions and the current swirl of election news, and draw visitors into conversations on the importance of civic engagement.

February 1, 2016 – November 14, 2016

American History Museum

In Memoriam: Arnold Palmer

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery recognizes the life and accomplishments of professional golfer Arnold Palmer with an oil painting by Paul Burns installed in the museum’s “In Memoriam” space.

September 26, 2016 – October 30, 2016

Portrait Gallery