Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

What a wonderful place and gallery. The art that not widely known arts create, especially the art made from the physical material of our world is mind blowing. It's like 3d Chess. In addition to the visual aspects, the way the artists construct the physical pieces of our world are truly unique. With respect to the Renwick, everything on display is just so accessible, and much less crowded than other museums. Highly recommended. Monday 2 December 2024

Renwick Gallery is phenomenal. I recommend coming in after dining or touring the surrounding area. We took about an hour to enjoy the gallery as it is on the smaller side. There is an upstairs and downstairs, both with great content. Definitely recommend to do it at least once if you’re in the area!

This small craft museum, just two floors, is a gem located right near the White House—and it's free to enter! Head up to the second floor, where you can stand, sit, or even lie down to take in the artwork from different angles. It’s a unique and immersive experience that’s definitely worth a visit.

This museum displays variety of contemporary art. The entire museum is 2 stories. It’s free and right near the White House. If you love unique art displays, this is a must see stop. Small Smithsonian museum with fun exhibits that can take about 1 hour or less to get through

This is such a fun museum that you could easily miss if you weren't paying attention! They have a bunch of fun pieces and a great rotating exhibit section. It's not usually too busy. Make sure to explore and find something interesting!

Loved this museum. The building is beautiful. The special exhibit on the main floor was fascinating. Really enjoyed the main collection and the 1.8 Renwick piece. This is a gem of a museum. No advance ticket was required. We walked right in after security of course.

This is one of the Smithsonian's best kept secrets. I stop when I'm in / near DC if I can. The exhibits change and are always SO thought provoking. It's a great place to take a kid, provided they don't run around. Every exhibit I've been to after 5 visits has something to interest a kid.

Very nice exhibit with artwork from a many different people. It was all what seemed to be fabric, not sure if that is a recurring thing or if that is simply what they were exhibitioning that day but it was nice. I don't have any regrets of coming in freely to browse what was being displayed as it was entertaining.

What a wonderful place and gallery. The art that not widely known arts create, especially the art made from the physical material of our world is mind blowing. It's like 3d Chess. In addition to the visual aspects, the way the artists construct the physical pieces of our world are truly unique. With respect to the Renwick, everything on display is just so accessible, and much less crowded than other museums. Highly recommended. Monday 2 December 2024

Renwick Gallery is phenomenal. I recommend coming in after dining or touring the surrounding area. We took about an hour to enjoy the gallery as it is on the smaller side. There is an upstairs and downstairs, both with great content. Definitely recommend to do it at least once if you’re in the area!

This small craft museum, just two floors, is a gem located right near the White House—and it's free to enter! Head up to the second floor, where you can stand, sit, or even lie down to take in the artwork from different angles. It’s a unique and immersive experience that’s definitely worth a visit.

This museum displays variety of contemporary art. The entire museum is 2 stories. It’s free and right near the White House. If you love unique art displays, this is a must see stop. Small Smithsonian museum with fun exhibits that can take about 1 hour or less to get through

This is such a fun museum that you could easily miss if you weren't paying attention! They have a bunch of fun pieces and a great rotating exhibit section. It's not usually too busy. Make sure to explore and find something interesting!

Loved this museum. The building is beautiful. The special exhibit on the main floor was fascinating. Really enjoyed the main collection and the 1.8 Renwick piece. This is a gem of a museum. No advance ticket was required. We walked right in after security of course.

This is one of the Smithsonian's best kept secrets. I stop when I'm in / near DC if I can. The exhibits change and are always SO thought provoking. It's a great place to take a kid, provided they don't run around. Every exhibit I've been to after 5 visits has something to interest a kid.

Very nice exhibit with artwork from a many different people. It was all what seemed to be fabric, not sure if that is a recurring thing or if that is simply what they were exhibitioning that day but it was nice. I don't have any regrets of coming in freely to browse what was being displayed as it was entertaining.

A lot of different styles of art throughout four floors, great to leisurely explore at your own pace

Loved coming to view the orchid exhibit with all different varieties. Stayed to view the paintings and artwork. Highly recommend. Not too far from the metro and super nice facility. Entry is free.

My coworkers and I had a great experience at the Smithsonian art museum! The staff was nice and helpful. The artwork is truly beautiful and the cafe has a good snack for if you get hungry. For a bottle of water and a turkey sandwich it came out to $18! It's free so this would make a great date or hang out with friends.

Wow, this museum is so large and a wide variety of paint aims and different art pieces all around! I came here because I saw the reviews and also it just recently reopened to the public from Covid. It was very quiet inside and people were not that close to each other. You can spend literally a long time looking at many wonderful pieces around! This is an awesome place for family and friends to mingle around and there are descriptions for each of the artwork. I would totally recommend this place and you can eat around the surrounding area, no problem!

Very much appreciated the new exhibit that focused partially on Japanese American art. Love the contemporary pieces on Serena and Venus Williams. As a healthcare provider, also really appreciated the art focused on the epidemic, which is a defining part of my career in medicine.

This was a great low key FREE date day or evening. Definitely wear comfortable shoes because you will be walking. There are benches to sit on inside all over the museum. Takes about 1 1/2 hour or 2 hours to see most of the art. You can record videos and take pictures, just not in the places it says "no photography" obviously. Pros: - amazing sculptures - they had art info wall plates - indoor covered terrace (you can hang out in there, people were reading, eating and relaxing) Cons: - would have liked more abstract art - the workersss (they were on the younger side and on they're phones having spicy convos) ( a few areas for more professionalism)

If you want American Art, then look no further. With free admission, you can spend hours/days here surrounded by the works of Jackson Pollock or Andy Warhol. I only spent a few hours here and unfortunately, didn't see everything. But it is a good excuse as any to go back. This is a must add to any Smithsonian itinerary.

It's one of those places that become your favorite, almost overnight. I like that they change their exhibits fairly often while maintaining my favorite rooms. It's tiny, and just the right size. Don't miss the upstairs light displays. Super fun when a group of dancers spontaneously did their thing on the carpet under the fishing nets lit up, in memory of the tsunami victims.

The Renwick Gallery originally wasn't on my radar as a must-see museum in DC, but I'm so glad I came! I had a few extra hours before my flight, and the Burning Man exhibit sounded pretty cool. I went on a weekday right around lunchtime, and it wasn't very busy. I think the Renwick changes exhibits every few months, so the Burning Man exhibit may not be there anymore. The museum is definitely smaller than all of the other Smithsonian museums, but I still spent a good while just admiring the different artifacts from the experience. My favorites were the VR exhibit, where you were literally exploring the festival! I also loved the interactive light-up mushrooms and the balsam wood temple. The exhibits were pretty magical and made me want to visit Burning Man someday.

One of my favorite museum's in all of Washington, DC - and that's quite a statement considering how many world class cultural and artistic institutions are here. Located within walking distance of the White House, the Renwick consistently highlights cutting edge exhibits which span the gamut of fabric, portraits, and mixed media. I always enjoy visiting every few months to see what new theme is being showcased. Currently the "No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man" (https://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/burning-man) is being featured through January 21, which is DC's good fortune since this exhibit is spectacular! "No Spectators" is an exposition of art from the legendary Burning Man event held in the Black Rock desert of Nevada. Every year legions of artists and musicians convene in the desert for experimentation in art and dance. The exhibits at "No Spectators" include a virtual reality A/R experience, a psychedelic multi-media video display, culminating with the magnificent (for lack of a better term) wooden city in the grand ballroom on the second floor. People have been scribbling messages on the wooden sculptures and also leaving notes on wooden note cards which have been inserted and mounted on the walls. The Renwick is always a great place to visit for contemporary art and an even better place to take out of town guests. If you're looking for a bite afterwards, there aren't that many options but my two favorites are: ROTI - (https://www.yelp.com/biz/roti-modern-mediterranean-washington?sort_by=date_desc) which is the healthy option and about a 3-5 minute walk TONIC at Quigley's - (https://www.yelp.com/biz/tonic-washington-5) mostly a hangout for GW students, but undoubtedly the BEST Happy Hour in Downtown DC.

I don't know why Smith is bringing smelly vegetables into this museum, but someone needs to confiscate Smith's Onion. I've only been in here once and it was with somebody that is obsessed with art so let's just say that they enjoyed it more than I did. Has nothing on the National Gallery, but it's right next to the White House and is worth stopping in if you love art. When we were here, it was for the Wonder Exhibit, which is long gone. But we checked out the rest of the gallery too and it was cool.

Very small truly remarkable art museum! You won't believe what you see in here, but mostly for adults not much for kids here. One of the smallest museums with 2 tiny floors. But what's inside is remarkable! I simply cannot believe some of the modern Art here. It's not paintings. It's full of creations. Some made out of wood, some made out of glass, some made out of human hair! Some of the things I've seen in this museum are some of the most remarkable works of art I have ever seen! Thus five stars for this small museum are in order! Keep in mind it's an adult museum. Children, especially young ones, just won't get it. Adults can also miss the point too. Be careful to read the signage to truly appreciate the art here! The top floor is a permanent collection and has very remarkable works. The bottom floor changes every 6 months or so. Highly recommended for adults.

We went to the Renwick on a work field trip aka a "treat yourself" trip. We specifically came to see the "Murder Is Her Hobby: Frances Glessner Lee and The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death" exhibit and it was quite interesting! (Pro-tip: this is up until January 28, 2018 so go check it out). I've been wanting to go to the Renwick and wasn't quite sure how I felt about this specific exhibit, but I actually enjoyed myself. The backstories of each of the "nutshells" were interesting and it really made you think about how each murder/death happened. It sounds gruesome but it was exciting and thought provoking. We also checked out some of the permanent collection and the the Parallax Gap and the Rick Araluce: The Final Stop. I really enjoyed my visit to the Renwick and am excited to go again to either see more of the permanent collection or new exhibits! You should also check it out... it's free so no excuses!

The museum is beautiful, there is an array of art to look at. The museum is very large so be sure to grab a map lol. I found my self getting lost half the time I was there but that's my fault. I can to the museum looking particularly for the Obama portrait. But I was amazed by how much more they had! It was very intriguing. The portrait room alone had so much different paintings. The portraits were crowded but it want overwhelming. You do have an opportunity to take photos of it and with it if you like. The inside is like any other art museum and it was pretty clean. They also have this beautiful indoor space filled with flowers that you can just relax, sit and take a few photos. I enjoyed this visit overall. DC is filled with cool art galleries and this is definitely a place to stop by when your visiting.

What an amazing collection of art! Absolutely a must-see when visiting. Like other museums, the admission is free. Each visit is like the first time for me because there is so much to take in and so much that may have been missed on a previous visit. Definitely a wonderful way to learn about the art and history of our country.

This museum does no justice looking at the image simply! You must visit this as it is very educational and speechless. Once you visit the museum you will realize music at its finest(as it was) and appreciate it more today. You must go. Register online for a free hour pass and enjoy. The restaurant inside.....ummm you can skip it!

Bottom Line: Contemporary crafts in a historic 1860 era building. I love the Smithsonian Institution so I'd been patiently waiting for the Renwick Gallery to reopen after 18 months of construction and for the permanent exhibits to be installed after Wonder was disassembled. While I am very grateful that this famous building has had a stunning renovation, I am not sure that I am cool enough to understand the contemporary art at the Renwick. The Renwick bills itself as being a museum of American crafts. When I think of American crafts I think of beautiful quilts, detailed wood carvings and exquisite Tiffany lamps. But those aren't the type of items you'll find here. To understand the type of exhibits here, it is best to check out the photos on Yelp. I must say that I was excited to see a beautiful blown glass chandelier (figurative chandelier, that is) from Dale Chihuly. I first came across his jaw-dropping work in Seattle several years ago and was blown away (pun intended). The chandelier that hangs in the Renwick is relatively simple compared to other pieces of his but it's perfectly fitting for the Renwick. I enjoyed reading about the history of this well curated museum and of course it's great that this culturally rich establishment is prepaid through federal taxes. (Many people call that free but as a US tax payer, I know I pay for this and the other wonderful SI museums and galleries.)

Free museums to visit while wasting time in the city is a great pass time! We always past this museum because it's always packed but today we decided to just go for it and glad we did! The art pieces are truly remarkable and the added story behind the art makes it much more interesting. Some more than the others. Security is all around making sure everyone stays orderly. I was told I had to wear my backpack in front so I felt a little inconvenient there. There's a large outdoor atrium that has a little cafe that is very beautiful to chill and rest your feet. I was telling hubby the place is beautiful enough to have a wedding and lo and behold I saw a wedding party entering in. They also have newer artwork like a picture of Tupac in his words but where was Biggie?! LOL! Anywhooo...it was a nice museum.

The Renwick Gallery is tiny: even if you diligently read and stared at each art piece, I don't think you could spend more than an hour and a half here. I loved the floral bone exhibit by Jennifer Trask on the ground floor. Otherwise, it was a hodgepodge of fairly interesting but disconnected pieces throughout the museum. The main draws are the chandelier and the rainbow installation in the main room upstairs. A friend described the Renwick as "seemingly made for selfies". Little irksome details: no coat check, just a hang-at-risk garment rack by the front door; only one bathroom per floor i.e. women's on the ground but not second floor, men's on the second but not ground floor.

On our last day in Washington DC, my friend and I managed to squeeze in one last museum visit into our trip, and I'm glad it was the Smithsonian American Art Museum! Such a wonderful variety of art pieces to see, and there's even the Kogod Courtyard connecting the American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. Beautiful space to take a rest and hang out before seeing more exhibits. As far as logistics, security will make you check your bag(s) into a locker (they're free) so your stuff doesn't break the art. Makes sense. It's an easy process. The museum store is also a neat place to check out if you have time. Lots of fun trinkets that relate to the current exhibits. Some are just random non-exhibit related gifts, too. My favorite exhibit was the traveling Martin Puryear one. It just ended on September 5, 2016 but I'm glad I got to see it before it was gone! His awesome sculptures were paired with their respective drawings. This is probably one of the best exhibits I got to see in all of Washington DC in the several days I was there. I'm looking forward to the next time I come here and see what else the Smithsonian has in store for its patrons!

I love to see contemporary art in every city I visit. Had to check out this museum once I saw the Yelp photos. It's an interesting little tour but maybe a little different from what I expected. There's a mix of pieces with some very recent ones (E.g. Last 10 years). But felt like the focus was a little more on craftsmanship than I expected and a little less conceptual than I hoped for a contemporary art collection. Lots of trompe l'oeil, or surprising materials, like a pillow made from marble, a tapestry made from film, or something that looks like natural wood but isn't. But it was a little eclectic and I felt like I would have appreciated a more coherent theme. Seems like the museum is also aware of that and had an introduction sign, something about the viewer drawing their own connections, to try to pull the various pieces together. But the end result is - while interesting individually, maybe a little random as a whole. What was the experience the artists were trying to elicit in the viewer? Is there a common theme? What was the experience the curator was trying to elicit? Not too sure. I walked away appreciating the craftsmanship (it's pretty cool to make something pass for something else) but a little bored. Which doesn't mean other people won't enjoy it. I did catch a peek of a very cool looking installation in progress to open on 7/1. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because other parts of the experience were good.

A beautiful museum with a great collection on display during for the exhibit that I saw. It's also only a 2-floor museum, so there aren't enough pieces and rooms to get too overwhelmed! I believe we spent about an hour and a half at the museum and felt that we were able to see everything. Very helpful staff as well!

Right in the heart of Downtown DC this gem of a Smithsonian Museum is for the art lover! I somehow finally noticed this building a couple of months ago. It is the perfect place to get my steps in during this hot season. I come to roam, take pics, get lost in a tapestry, oogle a wonder inspiring exhibit, lay on the rug and stare at awe at the light enabled abstract piece. I come often but find something new...or something I overlooked or didn't bother to read on a previous visit. I get lost in the souvenir shop....between the books, cases, personal jewelry pieces I enjoy every bit of this museum. I can't wait until September comes....new exhibits!!!!! I've added my photos

I really enjoyed this free museum. Upper floor had the Burning Man exhibit and downstairs there were several artists exhibited with different cultural pieces. It is small and quint. I especially enjoyed the burning man exhibit as it reminded me of some great times.

Current exhibit is "Wonder". Nine leading contemporary artist displaying their work which I found amazing. The Renwick Gallery since reopening with this exhibit Fall 2015 has been a buzz and I personally think the hype is valid. If coming to the capital I would make plans to view. The museum is FREE of charge and donations are welcome in the front. I find no reason to go artist by artist on this review when you can easily click on this link http://renwick.americanart.si.edu/wonder/gallery and learn everything you can possibly want to know. However, I will provide some personal insight that I hope will be helpful. The building is a stunner and gorgeous inside as well. It is the very first DC museum which I found interesting. It was built at it's inception as a gallery to display art. It's never looked better since closing down almost two years for an extensive renovation. The location is across from the White House and snuggled up by the Blair House. So if you have never had the opportunity to see this other historic house check out the plaque, no tours. My son and I arrived at the door on a Monday just before a 10 AM opening. there were already around fifteen guest waiting to enter. I found out from an employee that lines form early on weekends, even the off season. So first suggestion is to come early and week days will be less congested. Once you enter my recommendation is to make a right and resist those beautiful stairs in front for now. Enter the gift store and continue on to the next room, the video viewing area. The nine artist describe their work on the left flat screen TV. The second screen shows the actual installation. It will only take 15 minutes and will set up your visit nicely. I really enjoyed it and my 12 year old son set patiently through it and liked if that helps. The production quality is top notch. After you exit the video room it's up to you what order you choose, but keep in mind there are two floors. Five exhibits on the bottom, four on top. Restrooms are located on the second floor. NEW to the museum is the promotion of Instagram #renwickgallery to tag your photos and describe how the piece affected you. This has caused the gallery to blow up in attendance over the past month with pics going viral. So if your so inclined prior to your visit check out other photos and post your own on visits. Everyone will have there own favorite for different reasons. The most impressive to me was artist John Grade "Middle Fork" 2015. The entire piece is made of small rectangular wood blocks glued, then later sanded down from a plaster mask mold of an entire 140 year old tree in Washington state. The work is suspended on cables. The fact you can walk all around it is a little freaky if you have small children, it is a fragile piece. Gallery host are every where to remind you to NOT TOUCH the art. This I believe was the most labor intensive of them all and took over two years to complete with lots of volunteer help. It will probably take around an hour tops to view including the video and excluding any wait. I would personally be willing to wait in a small line of 15-20 minutes if the weather was cooperative. The employees told me the lines moves quickly, but they do have to limit numbers inside to avoid chaos and probably a fire code viloation. I'm all in on this beautiful gallery with their nine talented artist. If you decided to skip you will be sorry.

Amazing free museum across the street from the front entrance to the White House! If you're in D.C. for a short visit, the Renwick is a must! If you live in D.C., you should definitely stop by at some point. You can get in-and-out of this Modern Art Museum in under thirty minutes, or spend up to two hours there. Some big, exotic exhibits in this small-ish two story building, with an elevator. I was super impressed! Big Fan!

The Renwick Gallery is very hard to attend. As a child my mother would tell me to keep my hands to myself when we went into department stores and into people's houses to visit. The Wonder exhibit just brought back all of my past temptations to do just the opposite, TOUCH DAMN NEAR EVERYTHING! (Not to worry I used full restraint) This is such a great exhibit, the only drawback is that there are so many images online, once I got here there were no surprises, so as tempting as it is, if you manage to read a review on this museum, don't look at any of the pictures if possible. My favorite installation was Jennifer Angus's, In the midnight Garden, hot pink room with colorful insects strategically placed like wall paper, pictures don't do this space justice, especially when you get up close to these big bright beautiful insects. Another gorgeous piece was Leo Villareal's 23,000 LED lights that shimmered and sparkled as a chandelier; the closest thing I've seen to it is when sunlight sparkles on a pond. It shimmers in waves, absolutely beautiful. The tree pods are a must see, Patrick Dougherty used willow osiers and saplings to create these nature coves, all I was thinking is that they would be great to have dinner in like at a restaurant, private but then they had a little window you can see out of! Really cool idea to just run with in so many directions. The most impressive part is that as you look through the pod there seems to be no cast or skeletal structure to explain how the artist trained the branches into this upright circular nest. The Renwick Gallery has a lot of history, created back in 1859, for William Wilson Corcoran's art collection. It's inspiration was the Louvre in Paris. The gift shop has so many cool high fashion minimalist pieces: origami inspired coats, bow ties made of bird's feathers, to hand made one of a kind statement piece necklaces. So much to see, just go! Art lifts your spirits and always sends the hopeful message 'that with creativity anything is possible'. No need to Wonder: 2nd floor closes May 8th 2016 and the 1st floor closes July 10th 2016. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Absolutely stunning, larger than life, one of a kind exhibits. I am so glad I was finally able to make it out to the newly renovated Renwick gallery and it's opening exhibition: "Wonder". There was a little bit of a line, but I appreciate the gallery controlling the flow of traffic so the exhibits didn't get over crowded. I also appreciate the "photography encouraged" signs posted throughout the exhibits. It's nice to be able to photograph such incredible works of art and you don't always get this opportunity. Plus it's free, and you can't beat free! Just an FYI: they are getting close to last call for this exhibition. The second floor exhibits close May 8th, 2016 and the first floor closes July 10th, 2016.

Finally glad to see this place back and operating after 2 years of renovations! However be sure you arrive early! The first time I went was in December before the gallery became instagram famous. I visited this weekend and the line wrapped to the white house back to the entrance of the building! It's worth the wait though 9 exhibits are inside and boy are they magnificent. It's absolutely breathtaking to see the exhibits as they make you wonder, HOW DID THEY DO THIS? My favorite exhibits were: +Individually colored strings that were strung to imitate a rainbow. Didn't find the pot of gold at the end of it though +15 ft high stacks of cards shaped as mountains that made you feel like you were on a boat navigating some mystical land in China. +Color changing lamps that was reflecting what was perceived on this gigantic fishnet +The bug room. I asked one of the museum staff if those were real bugs, and yes... they were. The bugs were placed to represent a design. Cool but icky. Did I mention this place is FREE? Definitely a must do in DC before the WONDER gallery closes in May. You can find the perfect instagram picture here :)

One of the things I love most about the American Art Museum is its hours. While most Smithsonian galleries close promptly at 5, this wonderful collection of American paintings and sculpture is open until 7 on weeknights, making the perfect place to spend an hour or two before dinner, or after your business meetings are through. Another plus is that it shares a building with the fabulous National Portrait Gallery, giving you two museums for the price of one. And, by the way, that price is exactly ZERO. The permanent collection here is wonderful, spanning American art from massive landscapes done in the 1800s to modern art of the present day. Don't miss the third floor, where the architecture of the historic Great Hall is a highlight, as is its portrait collection of American sports heroes and artists. There are also a number of comfortable places to sit and relax, including the spacious covered atrium, which is a wonderful spot to hang out with a book and a cup of coffee any time of year. The American Art Museum houses one of D.C.'s most impressive collections in an equally impressive space, and is a must for anyone visiting our nation's capital.

What an awesome exhibit to go to! It had beautifully displayed art work that were all created from different materials. It was super crowded and there were huge lines, but the lines went by faster than I thought it would. There were way too many people to try and take cute pictures. However, I can't complain because this place has free admission and is located near the metro stop. It is right in front of the White House. Go and visit this place! It is worth the trek through D.C.

It's the Smithsonian. What are you going to do - give it less than five stars? . . . .

Two years while this place underwent reconstruction was well worth the wait. Wow. Best (and most unique) art museum in the city. It's right next to the White House (and two short blocks from Farragut West Metro Station) so there's no excuse to not pop in for a quick look. It's open daily 10AM-5PM and only takes 30-45 minutes to walk through its two floors. The exhibits are very unique...think modern art but the most Instagrammable modern art you'll ever see. One room is a giant rainbow made from thread only. The next room is a giant tsunami room that changes colors. The next is a room of life sized birds' nests that you cab explore. One of the most unique rooms is on the second floor. It's bright pink but decorated in large bugs (don't worry, all the bugs are preserved and therefore NOT alive). The art is so unique you'll likely never see anything else like it. On top of amazing, world class modern-art, the Renwick Gallery sticks out in four ways: 1) There are plugs everywhere. If you need to recharge your phone in between tourist sites, go here. It's free to enter after all. 2) There's free, strong wifi. 3) There's a large room on the second floor called the tsunami that has chairs, couches, and even a bean bag to sit and relax. In fact, you could bring your computer and crank out some work being inspired by the artistic surroundings. 4) They use social media well. Use the hash tag #RenwickGallery on your photos across any social platform and they'll repost you. #awesome I don't have a bad thing to say about the Renwick Gallery. It's a must see in DC and it's free!

I have no interest in posing as an art expert or in trying to top the pictures others might post, but from my standpoint, the Renwick's reincarnation is quite spectacular. The current configuration focuses on large pieces that fill an entire room. Like every art gallery, signs abound telling you not to touch anything, but in this one, doing so is a genuine physical challenge while weaving through some of the artwork, an experience that engages the viewer and gets the blood flowing. The centerpiece is a grand hall, formerly a fairly ordinary portrait gallery, now reimagined with a color-shifting mesh hanging from the ceiling, and a mat that encourages viewers to lie recumbent and gaze up at the colors. It isn't particularly large; no more than a large house, but it is free. Unlike some museums, photography is encouraged and the exhibits are surely amenable to it. Situated across from the White House. The Renwick has always been convenient for tourists and downtown workers alike, providing a quiet respite from DC's patch of urban jungle. I used to come often when my grandmother was a volunteer here, and I imagine she would be pleased at what they've done with the place.

I was fortunate enough to have a few hours to wander through this American artist specific museum. It is in a shared building with the Portrait Gallery. Instead of alcove rooms all connecting to each other, there is one main hallway and you weave in and out of smaller rooms. The smaller rooms housed pieces attributed to the donations of specific collectors (whose names are prominently featured on the wall). I found it fairly easy to keep track of where I was in the museum with this set-up. I was pleasantly surprised by how much sculpture was included in the collection. They had several lovely John La Farge paintings and a huge glass window he created that I could have gazed at all day. I spent the most time up in the contemporary area. I am a huge Wayne Thiebaud fan and was glad to see they had a healthy grouping of his works. There was an eloquent tribute to the Charleston Nine which I was especially grateful to see. Perhaps some key heavy-hitters had works off of rotation or perhaps I missed an alcove but I was shocked not to see any Jasper Johns, Jackson Pollock, Barnett Newman, or Rothko? Or even some more current artists like Kehinde Wiley or Chuck Close? Maybe my expectations were too high but there seemed to be some collection gaps. All in all, though it felt like a privilege to see what I saw and I definitely plan to return!

Absolutely stunning portraits. I, of course, had to stop by to see the Big Os - Barack and Michelle Obama!! I love how vibrant and vivid the colors are for the President's portrait! They also had a absolutely stunning portrait of this opera singer near a picture of Michael Jackson. And while I was singing some of MJ's jams I was approached by an in-house Opera singer who, unbeknownst to me, had been blessing individual patrons with her beautiful voice. After she heard me singing, badly, she offered to sing me a song, which I gladly accepted. I've never had someone sing to me and it was an amazing experience! Her voice had so much power and control!

I'm a sucker for art museums! and Washington D.C. is full of them! So the question is...how do you decide which museum to visit first? The answer is: RENWICK GALLERY!!! YESS, YESS, A THOUSAND TIMES YES!!! They have this new exhibition called WONDER...and it's beautiful! I can assure you that EVERYONE in your family/friends will enjoy it. You don't have to love art to appreciate this kind of work. I truly don't want to say anything else because I'm afraid of spoiling your visit to the museum, but the only thing I can say is that you are not going to regret it! ps: Start your visit by watching the video next to the gift shop!

I loved the celebrity art. I guess it was because my friend and I could identify the celebrities versus having no idea who or what is depicted. There were four (?) levels in all with modern and traditional artwork you would expect to see. Don't take photographs ... or take them without getting caught. lol! The Kogod Courtyard was nice. The ceiling was cool looking as the glass was sort of like a prism. The ground had this thin water fountain running across the floor. The orchards were super beautiful to look at. And if you're thirsty or in need of a nibble treat, the café there will satisfy that craving. There will be free lockers near the front if you're needing a storage space. FYI: If you're carrying a backpack then the employees will either ask you to wear it in the front or store it in the locker. Admissions is free btw...

Tip: either avoid coming on a weekend altogether or come early they open at 10 am), because the line can get pretty crazy. Even though they try to move the line pretty quickly, it takes away from the beauty of the exhibits when it's crowded. And if you're anything like me and love taking pictures, you'll be pretty frustrated with people all over. It only has a few exhibits right now, but boy are they worth it! Don't want to spoil the fun by telling you what they are, just go and check them out for yourself. So creative, colorful and very pleasant to the eye. Read their description to get a better idea on what pushed the artist to go a certain way. I've been there twice already and still get amazed at its beauty. The gallery is perfect for an outing with the family or just friends hanging out. It may even be a perfect first date spot (in my opinion). And nothing makes things better than FREE entrance hahaha Definitely recommend this place!

Small art gallery that takes around 45 minutes to get through. The first floor exhibit when I went featured Voulkos' works in ceramics. I loved his art and bowls. Very aesthetically pleasing. Apparently he taught at UC Berkeley. Go bears! The second floor features their permanent exhibits, and many works are very unique. Going up the stairs, looking up, you will see a chandelier of LED lights, which shimmer and look very cool. The vase with landscape and dinosaurs looked very nice, except I don't understand why the artist wanted to make it look broken. Very cool effect though. I also liked the woman and child stone statue because the facial expressions cracked me up. The pillow made out of marble also looked really realistic. So cool! My favorite piece was Fibers and Civilization. From afar, it looks like a bunch of squares in squares, but when you take a closer look, it is made up of tiny film strips. What an interesting piece! Totes think this place is worth visiting. 8.5/10 rating.

I really like this place! There is always something interesting to check out. A nod to American Crafts from around the nation and different time periods. It's free! Laid out very well and easy to navigate with just two floors. Very close to the White House.

Love love love this photo-friendly museum! The newly renovated gallery boasts a fresh interior full of colorful exhibits that ask you to explore the concept of "wonder." If you're interested in architecture and historic preservation, I recommend watching the short videos in the room following the bug exhibit. I learned that the Renwick was the first building constructed just to house art in America. Come explore and take fun pictures with your friends. For once you won't have to hide your camera!

The Burning man exhibit that is currently running through January 2019, was super cool. Visual stimulation at its best! Light, shapes, costumes, moving parts - all was really interesting to see! I wasn't quite prepared for the emotion that the intricate wood carved Temple brought me - it was a room for reflection, meditation, remembrance, and you can leave your own words of offering, written on wood cards. As customary, all will be burned at the culmination of the show. Free museum, highly recommend it!

Ah-amazingly mind-blowing gallery in DC. I visited on March 12th when the "wonder" installation is on exhibition. Free admission and it is also under smithsonian institution. Line is a bit long - took us 25mins on a Saturday afternoon but def worthy of waiting. Exhibition is in a relative small size compared to other museums in DC. I loved that they encourage photos! The wonderland is a film killer (or a cell phone memory killer in these days :P). That's also how I found out about this new place! - thro friend's Instagram! You can also view tons of good photos from #renwickgallery. About the exhibition itself - 9 ah-amazing pieces from contemporary artistes! They are absolutely beautiful and full of delicate details. You can find all the relevant info on the website. Besides that, the building itself is elegant and beautiful, sitting right across the street of White House and next to the Blaire house. If you are visiting DC please check it out! If you are a big fan of art, it even worth a visit for it!

You can spend a whole day at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (and the National Portrait Gallery) and still feel like you have just scratched the surface. What's nice is that the museum is open till seven, versus the rest of the Smithsonian museums that close at five. On the flip side, the American Art Museum doesn't open until eleven. Three centuries plus of amazing art. The National Portrait Gallery has paintings of each of the American presidents. But unless I'm mistaken, there wasn't a portrait of President Obama. Most of the museum traffic seems to be in the Portrait Gallery or nearby galleries. However, I found myself all alone viewing paintings (mounted in glass cases on what seemed to be the sides of metal gym lockers) in a remote top floor gallery. Curiously, many of these paintings in this gallery were without a placard identifying them. I loved the glass-lined studios where restoration of art pieces takes places; it was cool to see two museum conservators collaborating over the restoration of one particular painting. I found the TV set-inspired art of the late Japanese-born artist Nam June Paik very interesting, in particular the huge map of the United States, with each neon-lined state comprised of TV monitors showing a clip of scenery or activities commonly associated with that state. The expansive Kogod Courtyard, is intriguing with its patterned cover that protects from the elements. Because the courtyard is covered, it's just a bit stuffy. OK, maybe I can be too serious - but I love my art - and treat going to an art museum as a spiritual, if not a religious, experience. That's why, one peeve I have about museums, is security guards or other employees engaging in distracting loud conversations. Boy, I'd be surprised if the entire Smithsonian American Art museum didn't hear the voice of one angry janitorial staff member bellowing for what seemed like an eternity. Put a lid on it. But having said that, if I only had time to pick one major art museum in DC to visit, and I had to choose between the National Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art - it's an extremely tough choice - I'd pick the Smithsonian.

We picked the best day in December (temp at 75 thank you God) to admire the works of several artists' masterpieces at Renwick. Located across from the White House, you will not miss the huge sign. Being a Saturday afternoon, I mentally prepared myself for scarce metered parking and a crowd of sardines inside the galleria. Thankfully it was not as bad lol. Yes, there is a crowd but the wave of transition from room to room made it sooooo much easier to gaze & interpret each artists' works. I hope everyone living in DC or visiting DC will take time to visit before the exhibit ends. Well worth it!

Amazing museum. 1) This museum is huge. 2) As such, make sure you have time on hand. 3) They are open later than other museums. 4) Plus it is free.

Love the Renwick! It's always a must see when friends and family come visit from out of town. I love that it's super peaceful and is a great place to recharge your batteries if you've been doing a lot of walking and sightseeing. The art is curated such that it is interesting and entertaining to both lovers and non-lovers of art in a museum sense (translation: even my dad was super entertained). It's small enough that you can get through the entire museum in about 30 minutes, depending on how fast you read or how long you decide to rest on the floor, staring up at the ceiling in the tsunami exhibit.

Been here several times. The exhibits are beautiful, I love it. Bathroom wait times for ladies are obviously crazy anywhere but they are clean and staff here very friendly and helpful at navigating the area