Explore Art & Design
Discover the transformative power of art and design
From ancient artifacts to contemporary masterpieces, the Smithsonian’s art collections span cultures and centuries. Along with our art-focused programs and research, our work illustrates how art and design are integral to humanity, enriching us all.
Featured
Discover featured online collections, resources, and stories from across the Smithsonian.
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National Portrait Gallery
David Bowie
Born on this day in 1947, Bowie expanded the boundaries of popular music and culture. -
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Researching Your Art
Tips and resources for learning about the painting you found or bought. -
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Smithsonian Collection Spotlight
Natural Beauty
Enjoy a selection of landscape paintings and artwork inspired by nature's beauty. -
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight
Dog: Museum's Best Friend
Sit, stay, and explore dogs from across our collections. -
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight
Artful Cats
Enjoy a selection of cat-themed art from across the Smithsonian. -
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight
Time for Tea
Beautiful objects designed for tea from across the Smithsonian and around the world. -
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight
Andy Warhol
An artist and cultural provocateur, Warhol reveled in challenging traditional conceptions of fine art. -
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight
The Art of Rock and Roll
A selection of rock and pop inspired art from concert posters and album covers to objects d'art. -
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight
Winter Wonderland
You don’t have to bundle up to enjoy these wintry works of art in our collections. -
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight
Architecture
From pyramids to cathedrals to sykscrapers, architecture is a mirror of society. -
Smithsonian Collection Spotlight
Consider the Chair
A common item with uncommon potential for redesign and reinvention.
Art Museum Collections
Connect with art and artists in the online collections of the Smithsonian's art museums. Art can also be found in the collections of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Museum of American History, and the Archives of American Art.
National Museum of African Art
African Art
Smithsonian American Art Museum
American Art + Artists
National Portrait Gallery
American Portraits
National Museum of Asian Art
Asian and Near Eastern Art
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Contemporary and Historical Design
Hirshhorn Museum
International Modern and Contemporary Art
Sidedoor Podcast
The Smithsonian's flagship podcast sneaks you through the side door to learn the stories behind the collections. Discover more episodes on art and design.
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Sidedoor Podcast
Writing on the Wall
MISS CHELOVE uses art to transform everyday public spaces into deeply personal statements and inspires some to ask: what is the role of the public artist?
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Sidedoor Podcast
The Artist Critics Love to Hate
His paintings, sketches, and prints papered the second half of the 20th century, highlighting American icons in his colorful expressionist style.
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Sidedoor Podcast
Finding Cleopatra
Edmonia Lewis' 3,000-pound masterwork, The Death of Cleopatra, mysteriously disappeared and was found in an unlikely place 100 years later.
From the Collections
