The National Museum of African Art was established in 1964 and became part of the Smithsonian Institution in 1979. It houses a wide range of ancient and contemporary art from Africa, and features a permanent collection of over 8500 works from all artistic genres including paintings, textiles, ceramics, furniture, tools masks, figures, musical instruments, and jewelry.
The museum contains the largest publicly-owned collection of contemporary African art. Among collection highlights is the massive Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, which includes 300,000 photographic prints and transparencies and 120,000 feet of film on African arts and culture over the last 120 years. Elisofon was an internationally known photographer and filmmaker who recorded African life from 1947 to his death in 1973.
Current and Upcoming Exhibitions
- Desert Jewels: North African Jewelry and Photography from the Xavier Guerrand-Hermès Collection
- October 8, 2008-January 11, 2009
- African Vision: The Walt Disney-Tishman African Art Collection
- Through March 22, 2009
- Black Gold I by Yinka Shonibare, MBE
- Indefinite
- Artists in Dialogue: António Ole and Aimé Mpane
- February 4-August 2, 2009
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- 10am-5:30pm Monday-Sunday
- Admission:
- Free
- Metro Stop:
- Blueline or Orangeline to the Smithsonian Station
- Exit near intersection of 12th St Sw and Independence Ave Sw
- Start out going East on Independence Ave Sw towards L'enfant Plz Sw
- View Metro Map
- Contact:
- Location: 950 Independence Avenue Southwest, Washington, DC 20024
- Phone: 202-633-4600
- Website: www.africa.si.edu
