Past Exhibitions | Smithsonian Institution

African Sources in Modern Art

As part of an expanded permanent exhibit, see a second gallery of examples which show the impact of traditional African sculpture on modern Western art.

August 1, 1980 – September 30, 1980

African Art Museum

Outdoor Wall Murals of the N'debele

As part of an expanded exhibit, an inner court has been painted with geometric color murals in the style of the N'Debele villages of southeast Africa.

August 1, 1980 – September 30, 1980

African Art Museum

Puppets from West Africa: Mali, Nigeria, Guinea

Included in the 27 puppets on view is Mali's answer to "Big Bird"--Kono Don, a 5-1/2-ft. costumed figure--as well as green-haired maidens with movable torsos and arms; horse and rider puppets; and elaborately decorated antelope-head puppets.

June 6, 1980 – September 21, 1980

African Art Museum

Animals in African Art

See some 50 objects from the permanent collection that show how animals are depicted in the art of a number of African peoples.

January 1, 1980 – July 31, 1980

African Art Museum

Tribute to Africa: Eliot Elisofon Photographs

See an audio-visual presentation of the outstanding color photography of Eliot Elisofon, renowned TIME/LIFE photographer.

January 1, 1980 – July 31, 1980

African Art Museum

Drums & Musical Instruments

View kalimba (thumb pianos), xylophones and percussion instruments from West and Central Africa.

May 1, 1980 – July 31, 1980

African Art Museum

African Influences in Modern Art

See an exhibition illustrating the similarities in form and artistic concept between traditional African sculpture and works of modern Western art.

January 1, 1980 – July 31, 1980

African Art Museum

Traditional Art from Upper Volta

View more than 115 masks, figures, jewelry, and utilitarian items from the Bwa, Bobo, Lobi, Mossi, and Gurunis peoples of Upper Volta.

January 1, 1980 – May 31, 1980

African Art Museum

Recent Gift Acquisitions (African Art)

View figures, masks, and musical instruments from the Senufo, Babara, Baga, Dan, Yoruba, and Luba peoples of West and Central Africa.

April 1, 1980 – May 15, 1980

African Art Museum

The Useful Arts of Kenya

See a comprehensive display of Kenyan arts and crafts, plus other utilitarian objects.

January 1, 1980 – May 15, 1980

African Art Museum

The Sculptor's Eye: Chaim Gross Collection

View 150 figures, masks and other objects, as well as 250 Ashanti goldweights from Chaim Gross's collection.

January 1, 1980 – March 31, 1980

African Art Museum

Five 19th-Century Afro-American Artists

See 25 works by Henry O. Tanner, Edward Mitchell Bannister, Robert S. Duncanson, Edmonia Lewis, and Joshua Johnston selected from the permanent collection.

February 4, 1980 – February 29, 1980

African Art Museum

Harvest Ceremonies and Celebrations: African Art, Kwanzaa

View a headdress and mask, a wall mural, a sculpture, and Kwanzaa materials.

January 1, 1980 – January 31, 1980

African Art Museum

Ceramics at the National Museum of African Art

Drawn from the museum's extensive collection of ceramic works, 14 vessels represent various regions of the African continent.

January 14, 1998 – Indefinitely

African Art Museum

The Walt Disney-Tishman African Art Collection Highlights

On view are objects from this comprehensive 525-piece collection of African art representing 20 African countries and 75 peoples and covers 5 centuries of African art.

May 18, 2009 – Closed

African Art Museum

Before Nollywood...The Ideal Photo Studio

This exhibition celebrates the photography of Solomon Osagie Alonge and honors the work of African studio photographers.

September 27, 2022 – TBA

African Art Museum

African Mosaic: 50th Anniversary Room

Originally housed in a Capitol Hill town house once owned by Frederick Douglass, the museum became part of the Smithsonian Institution in 1979 by an act of Congress and was renamed the National Museum of African Art.

July 16, 2014 – Indefinitely

African Art Museum

African Mosaic: Selections from the Permanent Collection

This exhibition showcases museum purchases and gifts and provides a glimpse into the collecting opportunities and decisions that exist for art museums.

November 19, 2010 – Closed

African Art Museum