National Museum of Asian Art

Art museum · National Mall

National Museum of Asian Art

Art museum · National Mall

1050 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20004

Highlights

Explore the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, where a rotating collection of exquisite pottery and paintings invites you to delve into diverse Asian cultures.

1050 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20004 Get directions

asia.si.edu

@natasianart

@afar

"The Sackler Gallery Together, the Freer Gallery and the Sackler make up the Smithsonian's Museums of Asian Art. In 1987, the Sackler launched with a 1,000-piece collection and funds donated by Dr. Arthur Sackler, a research physician and medical publisher. Early Chinese jades and bronzes, Chinese paintings and lacquerware, Near Eastern ceramics and metalware dating from the 4th to 7th centuries, and Hindu and Buddhist sculpture from the 10th to the 18th centuries constitute the bulk of his gift. Accompanying the permanent collection are special rotating exhibitions showcasing various aspects of ancient and contemporary Asian art."

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@afar

"Whistler's Peacock Room Once a dining room belonging to wealthy shipbuilder Frederick Leyland from Liverpool, then a private exhibition space at the mansion of wealthy Detroit industrialist Charles Lang Freer, American artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler's Peacock Room is now a treasure of the Freer Gallery of Art. Adorned with oil paint and gold leaf on canvas, leather, and wood, the room is filled with Freer's collection of over 250 ceramics from Egypt, Iran, China, Japan, and Korea as well as Buddhist sculpture and two parchment Bibles: a codex of the Old Testament books of Deuteronomy and Joshua, and the third-oldest manuscript of the Gospels in the world dubbed the "Codex Washingtonensis." Truly a blend of East and West."

The Best Museums in Washington, D.C.

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Nuha Anwar

Google

This museum has to be one of my favorite museums because it shows a representation of art from different Asian countries, and gives an insight into different cultures. I also appreciate that the museum continues to change its exhibitions quite often to allow for new perspectives in Asian history. However, I will say that my favorite is the little temple exhibit. I encourage checking that out. I also like the Center of the World exhibit. I first came here for their rainbow exhibit which is now gone, but I hope this shows the beauty of the asian art at this museum. If I had one critique, it would be that the museum can be difficult to navigate, but the staff are friendly and always willing to help you navigate. This helped me make sure I didn’t miss any art while walking by, and made my experience better.

Rae G-Lifeguard

Google

I absolutely loved exploring this museum. I have previously lived in China, so of course I was delighted to explore that section of the museum, but I truly loved the “Shahnama “ exhibit, which showcased Mongolian art and stories and how they shifted over time. The whole museum was lovely, and I appreciated being able to go out and sit in the courtyard for a few minutes when I wanted a break. Terrific museum, and I hope to come back soon!

Henry Zhang

Google

I mainly went to the exhibition halls display Chinese collections. There are few visitors on weekdays and it is very quiet. All the collections are very exquisite, representative and with great artistic value. If you want to have a complete and detailed tour may take several days.

no “noe” lyn

Google

Very detailed and informative. Well cleaned and maintained. Beautiful museum I have ever been. If you like Art, you may want to check this museum.

John H.

Google

Really enjoyed this museum. Top quality pieces. Asia includes the Middle East as well, and those pieces are great. It connects underground to the African museum. Free to enter any time, no advance tickets needed. Definitely worth a stop on your DC visit. Won't take that long to see everything.

Hayley F

Google

I absolutely love the artifacts in this museum. There are so many beautiful historical treasures. The information in each artifact is detailed and easy to understand. I appreciate each exhibit and the flow of the exhibition, going from gallery 1 to 30. The Peacock Room is a must to visit. It is so beautiful. There are no words in the room, but there are rows and columns of historical items. The Japanese supernatural exhibits are very interesting too. There is an amazing exhibit on different Buddha statues too. I highly recommend to visit this museum to learn more about Asian art. After the art visit, visiting the museum shop is a must as there are many interesting items to purchase. It took me 3hrs to walk through and read most of the exhibits.

Rebecca Leser

Google

The National Museum of Asian Art has an extensive collection of art, including pottery, sculptures, and paintings, from nations across Asia. I entered the museum through the east wing. Be sure to visit the west wing side (accessible inside via only one floor on the east wing or outside through the west side entrance).

Luke Nam

Google

I visited the National Museum of Asian Art for Solstice Saturday 2024, when it was open until midnight. All the other museums around the National Mall (except for the African Art Museum right by) were closed, so it was incredibly packed inside the building. No in-advance tickets need to be purchased, and just like other Smithsonian museums, it's free to enter. I spent about an hour touring the entire museum, as it's quite small compared to the other museums at the mall. Still, the museum boasts a historical collection of paintings, artifacts, and fabrics from China, Korea, and Japan. Detailed captions provide context and tell stories that pair nicely with the art collection. The center of the museum hosts a patio with a beautiful fountain and lush greenery. It was hot and crowded with the heat wave and Solstice Saturday ongoing, so make sure to stay hydrated!