National Museum of African Art - Smithsonian Institution Editors' Pick

950 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20560 | 202-633-1000 | Web site »

Neighborhood:

The Mall

Metro:

Smithsonian (Blue, Orange lines)

Type:

Smithsonian

Hours:

Daily 10 am-5:30 pm

Admission:

Free

Quick Take

(Crest mask, Ejagham peoples/National Museum of African Art)

Beauty and utility meet in the galleries of this museum.

Read Our Review >>
 
 
 
 

Special Features

 

Event Calendar

  • 5/23

    Artist Talk

    Marcus Neustetter, an artist from Johannesburg, South Africa, discusses designing South African postage stamps.

  • Through 9/1

    Walt Disney-Tishman African Art Highlights

    Donated to the museum in 2005, the collection features unique and rare works of traditional African art from throughout sub-Saharan Africa

  • Through 1/4/14

    Earth Matters: Land as Material and Metaphor in the Arts of Africa

    With the major exhibition "Earth Matters," the Museum of African Art tackles the broad subject of the African landscape and residents' complex relationships with it. Besides objects, the show culls modern photographs, drawings and more by a hit list of important African contemporary artists, including Wangechi Mutu, William Kentridge, El Anatsui and Ledelle Moe, and gives you reason to take a walk in the sunshine: The exhibit also features a rare outdoor installation of land art in the gorgeous Enid A. Haupt Gardens.

  • 6/19 - 2/9/14

    Lines, Marks and Drawings: Through the Lens of Roger Ballen

    A display of photographs of homes and windowless rooms in rural Africa by the New York native.
 

Our Review

The Buzz: Conserving centuries of art from a massive, diverse continent is no easy task, but this Smithsonian museum does an excellent job of representing the breadth of African cultures.

The Collections: The collection includes both ceremonial and utilitarian objects from cultures across the continent. Ceramics, tiles, furniture and tools can be found along with masks, paintings and sculpture.

In 2005, the museum accepted the donation of the Walt Disney-Tishman Collection of African Art, a highly regarded group of more than 500 objects.

Programs: The museum offers frequent weekday tours of its exhibitions. Film screenings and dance performances also make appearances on the museum's calendar -- particularly during the summer months. On some Saturday mornings, the museum hosts "Let's Read About Africa," a kid-friendly storytelling session.

Extras: The museum has a gift shop with inexpensive books, purses, jewelry, videos and CDs. It also has expensive sculptures, ceramics and musical instruments, so keep an eye on kids.

(Updated July 10, 2007)

 
 
 
 
 

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National Museum of African Art - Smithsonian Institution
950 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20560
202-633-1000

 
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