Exhibitions

An in-depth look at three trailblazing American artists of Japanese descent in the story of modernism.

Sublime Light celebrates more than three decades of innovation by fiber artist DY Begay and is the first retrospective of Begay’s career, showcasing 48 of her most remarkable tapestries.

Learn about renowned educator and reformer Mary McLeod Bethune and other Black women social change agents, past and present. 

Learn how the featured artists mastered and subverted the everyday materials of cotton, felt, and wool to create deeply personal artworks.

Brilliant Exiles illuminates the accomplishments of sixty unconventional women who pursued their personal and professional aspirations in Paris.

Chicago-based artist Shawn Michael Warren painted Winfrey in a purple taffeta dress amidst a lush garden at her California home.

Working in the fast-paced, ever-changing environment of broadcast news, these women shaped and shape the narrative for major historical events.

In this exhibition, Jackson creates a series of haunting, yet profoundly beautiful and empowering encounters that draw upon African water spirits from Senegal to South Africa.

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the federal legislation that unintentionally helped bring equality to sports, this 30-foot display case illuminates three athletes’ stories.

Music HerStory explores the countless contributions of women changemakers, groundbreakers, and tradition-bearers through unique media collections from the Smithsonian.

Featuring stories of contemporary and historic women, this display of photos and graphics is dominated by lively, larger-than-life images of female inventors.

This display features the stories of eight strong women who made it to the top.

Echelman’s colorful fiber and lighting installation examines the complex interconnections between human beings and our physical world.

View the commissioned portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama, now permanently installed in the museum.

See Supreme Court justices Sandra Day O'Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan in this life-size portrait.

Learn how first ladies have shaped the role of first lady as the role of women in society evolved.

This exhibition showcases major cultural and political figures who struggled to achieve civil rights for disenfranchised or marginalized groups.