The Freer Gallery of Art is part of the Smithsonian Institution and one of two Smithsonian galleries (the other is the Sackler Gallery) that feature East Asian art. The gallery includes more than 26,000 works from throughout Asia, including China, Korea, Japan, and India.
The Freer Gallery opened in 1923 based on the initial collections of Charles Lang Freer, who began collecting American art and then shifted his focus to works from across Asia. The gallery was the first Smithsonian museum with a focus on fine arts, and was established based on Freer’s request that he maintain full curatorial control over the collection until his death. Since that time, the collections have grown to nearly triple the original collection. Highlighting the Asian collection are Chinese ceramics and paintings, Korean ceramics, and pottery, Japanese folding screens, and Indian and Persian manuscripts.
Current and Upcoming Exhibitions
- Winslow Homer: Four Views of Nature
- November 22, 2008–May 25, 2009
- Perspectives: Anish Kapoor
- November 22, 2008–July 19, 2009
- Moving Perspectives: Lida Abdul and Dinh Q Le
- December 6, 2008–March 1, 2009
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- Monday-Sunday: 10am-5:30pm
- Admission:
- Free
- Metro Stop:
- Blueline or Orangeline to the Smithsonian Station
- Exit near intersection of 12th St Sw and Jefferson Dr Sw
- View Metro Map
- Contact:
- Location: 1000 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20560
- Phone: 202-633-4880
- Website: www.asia.si.edu
