Past Exhibitions | Smithsonian Institution

American Women: A Selection from the National Portrait Gallery

See 65 images of women who have made significant contributions to the history, development, and culture of the United States.

June 1, 2002 – July 14, 2005

Portrait Gallery

High Fiber

View 69 objects -- including many important milestones of the American fiber art movement -- by 61 artists that illustrate the diversity of contemporary crafts created from the mid-20th century to the present.

March 11, 2005 – July 10, 2005

Renwick Gallery

Case: Ralph J. Bunche, Statesman, Activist, Peacemaker (Part 1)

Ralph Bunche (1904-1971) -- scholar, diplomat, political scientist, and activist -- was the 1st African American to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950 for negotiating the Rhodes Armistice Agreement.

September 9, 2004 – July 7, 2005

American History Museum

Luxury and Luminosity: Visual Culture and the Ming Court

See 48 objects, of which 35 are imperially commissioned, cobalt-decorated porcelains from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

July 3, 2004 – June 26, 2005

Asian Art Museum, West Building

International Joyce

Learn about the Irish writer James Joyce (1882-1941), one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. These 22 panels tells the story of the writer said to represent the spirit of modern Ireland.

June 9, 2005 – June 20, 2005

Ripley Center

On Their Own: Selected Works by Self-Taught African American Artists

The wit and daring of self-taught artists take center stage in an exhibition showcasing the works of Chris Clark, Simon Jackson, “The Dot Man” (Sam McMillan), Mary L. Proctor, “Mr. Imagination” (Gregory Warmack), and Ruby Williams.

January 31, 2005 – June 12, 2005

Anacostia Community Museum

The Art of Charles Smith

To teach African American history and heritage, self-taught artist Charles Smith forms life-sized human figures out of concrete and found objects.

January 31, 2005 – June 12, 2005

Anacostia Community Museum

In Celebration of Black Men

See a story quilt created in 1995 by 13 African American men in the Washington, D.C. area, designed to help prepare teenagers for manhood.

January 31, 2005 – June 12, 2005

Anacostia Community Museum

Richard Avedon Memorial Photographs

In memory of Richard Avedon (1923-2004) -- one of the most influential and celebrated American photographers of our time -- 7 of his photographs are on view.

October 7, 2004 – June 5, 2005

American History Museum

Smithsonian Institution Libraries in the Service of Science

See a life-size, color illustration of a green-backed golden pheasant, found in the library-bound A Monograph of the Phasianidae or Family of the Pheasants (1872).

November 22, 2002 – June 3, 2005

Natural History Museum

Hawaiian Treasures

To complement the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian, this exhibition celebrates the indigenous peoples of Hawai'i.

September 22, 2004 – May 30, 2005

Natural History Museum

World War II Photographic Perspectives

To commemorate the opening of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, a selection of photographs taken between 1941 and 1945 are on view to document Americans both at war and at home.

May 27, 2004 – May 30, 2005

American History Museum

Aircraft Models

In several cases, see a selection of several hobby model airplanes, ranging from balsa wood to expensive models that require hours of meticulous work.

January 27, 2000 – May 24, 2005

Air and Space Museum

American Quilt Legacy Case: World War II Friendship Quilt

The American Quilt Legacy case features pieces from the museum's collection on a rotating basis, currently showcasing a WWII friendship quilt.

July 4, 2002 – May 18, 2005

American History Museum

Asian Games: The Art of Contest

Explore the role of games as social and cultural activities in the diverse societies of pre-modern Asia through games, paintings, prints, and decorative art.

February 26, 2005 – May 15, 2005

Asian Art Museum, East Building

Jazz Photographs: Composed and Improvised

Visit a selection of rarely seen images -- from formal publicity shots to casual snap shots -- of jazz artists performing, jamming, and relaxing.

March 28, 2005 – May 10, 2005

American History Museum

El Nino

This case explores the El Nino weather phenomenon and discusses how it affects life around the world. An interactive computer provides information from NASA.

October 1, 2004 – May 9, 2005

Natural History Museum

Isamu Noguchi: Master Sculptor

See an exhibition marking the centennial of Isamu Noguchi's birth (1904-1988), the first museum show in over 30 years to highlight the tremendous diversity of forms, ideas, and materials in his sculptural works.

February 10, 2005 – May 8, 2005

Hirshhorn Museum

New Tribe: New York: Mario Martinez

This exhibition features 15 works, alongside 6 new works, by New York, Native American abstract painter Mario Martinez (Yaqui).

January 29, 2005 – May 8, 2005

American Indian Museum New York

In Search of Giant Squid

Two preserved giant squids are on view. The rare Taningia danae is often referred to as the world's largest flasher because of its ability to flash brilliant blue-green light in the ocean depths. Architeuthis dux, displayed in the museum since 1983, is the world's largest invertebrate.

April 1, 2000 – May 6, 2005

Natural History Museum

African American Masters: Highlights from the Smithsonian American Art Museum

This exhibition includes 61 paintings, sculptures, and photographs focusing on the rich and varied experience of African American artists in the 20th century.

April 1, 2003 – May 3, 2005

American Art Museum

Miracles Under the Waves: Photographic Art of Akiyoshi Ito

See the vibrant colors and diverse forms of life in coral reefs around the world revealed in 34 photographs by Japanese photographer and artist Akiyoshi Ito.

March 2, 2005 – May 1, 2005

Ripley Center

The Orchid Express

Discover the transformation of these beautiful plants from the wild to how they were transported, cultivated, hybridized, propagated, and finally mass marketed to delighted plant lovers.

December 4, 2004 – May 1, 2005

Natural History Museum

American Prairie

Learn about the prairie's story from biological, environmental, and cultural perspectives on the Prairie Plant Discovery Trail.

July 8, 1999 – April 26, 2005

National Zoo

Contemporary Japanese Ceramics: Focus of Decoration

See 9 ceramic vessels (in display cases) by Japanese artists who focus on innovative approaches to decoration.

September 28, 1987 – April 24, 2005

Asian Art Museum, East Building