Art Museums/Galleries in Washington DC
For many art aficionados, a world capital is only as good as its art museums and galleries. Luckily for art fans, Washington, DC, does not disappoint. From the National Mall, where you'll find the National Gallery as well as most of the Smithsonian Institution museums, to neighborhoods such as Dupont Circle, which contains many private galleries, there is an art museum or gallery to please the eye of every aesthete.
Topping our list of the best art museums and galleries in Washington, DC, is the National Gallery, which contains a trove of Italian Renaissance paintings, including the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in the United States; canvases from French impressionists; and modern art from the likes of Alexander Calder and Salvador Dali, among many other masterpieces. Nearby, the Hirshhorn Gallery and Sculpture Garden is a treat for lovers of contemporary art, the Sackler Gallery contains an impressive store of art from Asia, and the National Museum of African Art has artistic treasures representing every country in Africa.
While many of Washington's finest art collections are located on the National Mall, you'll also find other world-class museums beyond the monuments. The National Portrait Gallery, for example, houses an impressive store of portraits of famous Americans. Private galleries, such as the Phillips Collection and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, contain priceless works in their permanent collections and are a local favorite for cutting edge exhibitions.
Topping our list of the best art museums and galleries in Washington, DC, is the National Gallery, which contains a trove of Italian Renaissance paintings, including the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in the United States; canvases from French impressionists; and modern art from the likes of Alexander Calder and Salvador Dali, among many other masterpieces. Nearby, the Hirshhorn Gallery and Sculpture Garden is a treat for lovers of contemporary art, the Sackler Gallery contains an impressive store of art from Asia, and the National Museum of African Art has artistic treasures representing every country in Africa.
While many of Washington's finest art collections are located on the National Mall, you'll also find other world-class museums beyond the monuments. The National Portrait Gallery, for example, houses an impressive store of portraits of famous Americans. Private galleries, such as the Phillips Collection and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, contain priceless works in their permanent collections and are a local favorite for cutting edge exhibitions.
National Gallery of Art
Constitution Avenue Northwest
On National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets
The premier art museum in the Nation's Capital, the National Gallery houses an extensive art collection from the world's most famous artists...
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
Independence Avenue and 7th Street South West
Independence Ave. at 7th St. SW (on the south side of the Mall)
Modern Gallery with 19th- and 20th-century artworks...
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
1050 Independence Ave. SW
Southwest
Experience one of the world's foremost collections of Asian art, from ancient to contemporary works...
Freer Gallery of Art
1050 Independence Avenue
Jefferson Dr. SW at 12th St. SW (on the south side of the Mall)
Part of the Smithsonian, this gallery specializes in Asian art...
Corcoran Gallery of Art
500 17th St. NW
Between E St. and New York Ave
Washington's first art museum boasts an impressive collection of works by established and up-and-coming artists...
National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Ave. NW
At 13th St
One of the world's foremost galleries celebrating the accomplishments of female artists...
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