Past Exhibitions | Smithsonian Institution

Behind the Scenes: The Real Story of Quileute Wolves

See rare artworks and objects from the Quileute Nation that create a public forum for clarifying misconceptions and offering authentic interpretations of wolf mythology.

January 13, 2012 – May 9, 2012

American Indian Museum DC

Something of Splendor: Decorative Arts from the White House

This exhibition traces the history of the decorative arts in the nation's foremost home through approximately 100 objects made by celebrated artists of the day.

October 1, 2011 – May 6, 2012

Renwick Gallery

Ancient Near Eastern Art

See an extraordinary selection of silver-gilt ceremonial vessels, created in Iran during the Sasanian Empire (ca. 224-651).

February 3, 2010 – April 30, 2012

Asian Art Museum, West Building

Stamps of Approval

See eight objects featured in the U.S. Postal Service's Pioneers of American Industrial Design series of Forever stamps.

November 15, 2011 – April 29, 2012

Smithsonian Castle

Artuaré and Conversations in the Contemporary

See installations created by artist Steven Cumming and multimedia production studio CreativeJunkfood that are influenced by cultural expression found in schools, churches, community organizations, and other venues in the public sphere.

December 12, 2011 – April 29, 2012

Anacostia Community Museum

Perspectives: Minouk Lim

South Korean performance artist Minouk Lim used a thermal imaging camera to produce the video The Weight of Hands, which was in response to issues raised by one of the largest construction projects in South Korea's history.

November 19, 2011 – April 22, 2012

Asian Art Museum, East Building

The Black List: Photographs by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders

Photographs of 50 prominent African Americans from various professions, disciplines, and backgrounds redefine the word "blacklist."

October 28, 2011 – April 22, 2012

Portrait Gallery

Carl Beam

See many of Carl Beam's Ojibwe, 1943-2005) epic works in this retrospective.

October 29, 2011 – April 15, 2012

American Indian Museum New York

Frank Kameny

See three posters used by gay-rights activist Frank Kameny (1925-2011).

October 21, 2011 – April 8, 2012

American History Museum

Directions: Empire³

Three time-based media responses to the Empire State Building in New York City by Andy Warhol, Douglas Gordon, and Wolfgang Staehle are presented.

November 10, 2011 – March 25, 2012

Hirshhorn Museum

150th Commemoration of the Civil War: The Death of Ellsworth

The National Portrait Gallery marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War through a series of four alcove exhibitions. The first of these exhibitions recounts the death of Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth, a friend of President Lincoln, in Alexandria, Virginia.

April 29, 2011 – March 18, 2012

Portrait Gallery

National Treasures of Popular Culture

This exhibition displays iconic and well-loved artifacts from popular culture from more than a century of collecting.

November 21, 2008 – March 16, 2012

American History Museum

Multiplicity

This exhibition features more than 80 prints by outstanding contemporary artists who have expanded the idea of multiplicity beyond editions of identical impressions.

November 11, 2011 – March 11, 2012

American Art Museum

Watch This! New Directions in the Art of the Moving Image

In this permanent rotating gallery dedicated to the media arts, the museum examines the history and the latest developments in the art of the moving image.

November 15, 2011 – March 6, 2012

American Art Museum

Steve Jobs Portrait

View a portrait of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs (1955-2011) by photographer Diana Walker.

October 12, 2011 – March 1, 2012

Portrait Gallery

Gift of the Artist: Photographers as Donors

Images donated by 15 contemporary documentary photographers reveal the diversity of the Archives Center's photographic collection.

November 18, 2011 – February 29, 2012

American History Museum

AIDS Quilt Panel

On view is a panel from the AIDS Memorial Quilt honoring Roger Lyon.

June 3, 2011 – February 28, 2012

American History Museum

Seasons: Arts of Japan

See how seasonal associations permeate Japanese art and culture.

February 5, 2011 – February 12, 2012

Asian Art Museum, West Building

Central Nigeria Unmasked: Arts of the Benue River Valley

See more than 150 works created by the diverse people of the Benue River Valley in Central Nigeria - the source of the most abstract, dramatic, and inventive sculpture in sub-Saharan Africa.

September 14, 2011 – February 12, 2012

African Art Museum

The Wonder of Light: Touch and Learn

View objects from the museums' collections related to light - a symbol of discovery.

October 29, 2010 – February 6, 2012

Smithsonian Castle

Toys from the Attic

This case examines toys produced in 19th-century America that reflect changes in both technology and society.

June 1, 2010 – January 31, 2012

American History Museum

Power/Play: China's Empress Dowager

This exhibition provides a compelling and immersive exploration of the Empress Dowager Cixi -- supreme leader of China for more than 45 years-- through 35 glass-plate negatives, two original prints, and film clips.

September 24, 2011 – January 29, 2012

Asian Art Museum, East Building

Fabric of Survival: The Art of Esther Nisenthal Krinitz

See more than 30 exquisitely detailed embroidered and appliqued fabric panels that tell the story of Esther Nisenthal Krinitz's harrowing escape from the Nazis as a young girl and her voyage to freedom in America.

November 11, 2011 – January 29, 2012

Ripley Center

Seasons: Japanese Screens

Visit a selection of seasonal Japanese screens from the nearly 200 screens held by the Freer Gallery.

December 24, 2010 – January 22, 2012

Asian Art Museum, West Building

Seeing Gertrude Stein: Five Stories

More than 50 artifacts and 100 works of art reveal Gertrude Stein in her many roles.

October 14, 2011 – January 22, 2012

Portrait Gallery