Smithsonian American Art Museum: Stories of Race and American Sculpture

Let's meet up for an exhibition of American sculpture you won't see anywhere else! After we see the art, we'll gather in the museum's (air-conditioned) atrium for snacks, drinks, and mingling.

MEET AT: At the top of the stairs outside the G Street entrance to the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Look for Molly with the rainbow LAL sign.
COST: Free!

How does American sculpture intersect with the history of race in the United States? The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture examines the role of sculpture in understanding and constructing the concept of race in the United States.

The exhibition brings together 82 sculptures created between 1792 and 2023 and ranging in size from palm-sized coins to monumental statues created from diverse media such as bronze, marble, shoes, paper, and hair. Made by 70 different artists, these sculptures are displayed to allow for juxtapositions of historical and contemporary works that invite dialogue and reflection on notions of power and identity. American sculpture in its many forms also has served as an expression of resistance, liberation, and a vital means for reclaiming identity.

Fun fact!: The exhibition draws extensively on works from SAAM’s collection, which is the largest collection of American sculpture in the world.