On the occasion of 60 years of Art in Embassies, The Smithsonian's Museum of American History will open the exhibition "A More Perfect Union: American Artists and the Currents of Our Time," with a day-long art activation in partnership with the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia. Curated by Art in Embassies Chief Curator Camille Benton, President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities member Nora Halpern, and former Art in Embassies Director Ellen Susman, this exhibition includes works by some of the most respected contemporary artists working today, on issues of equality, freedom, justice, and other founding principles of the United States.
The Four Freedoms images by Emily Shur and Hank Willis Thomas, in collaboration with Eric Gottesman and Wyatt Gallery, will be featured alongside artists such as Doug Aitken, Paula Crown, Jenny Holzer, Jeffrey Gibson, Jay Lynn Gomez, Tomashi Jackson, Titus Kaphar, Christine Sun Kim, Bruce Nauman, Yoko Ono, Alexis Rockman, Edward Ruscha, Will Ryman, Xavier Tavera, Marie Watt, Carrie Mae Weems, Susan Weil, Lawrence Weiner, Ambassador Chantale Wong, and Yu-Wen Wu.
On view September 19–October 1
Learn more about the exhibition and program of events here.
THE PEOPLE and Nightly National Mall concert
On Sunday, September 17–21 | 6 PM
On the National Mall side of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the “President’s Own” United States Marine Band will perform in a ceremony launching of THE PEOPLE, a new light projection by renowned artist Jenny Holzer.
Democracy Day: Art and Democracy in American History
TALKS | Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Warner Bros. Theater
September 19 | 1–4 PM
Democracy Day will kick off the opening of the exhibition “A More Perfect Union: American Artists and the Currents of Our Time.” The National Museum of American History will team up with the University of Virginia’s Karsh Institute of Democracy, and Art in Embassies to present an afternoon full of special conversations exhibition tours by artists. The conversations include, “Artist Advocates for Democracy,” “Storytelling and Connection” both featuring For Freedoms co-founder Hank Willis Thomas, and "Revolutionary Questions at 250.”
