ECA News Briefs

Local artist Victor Ekpuk’s Graphic Installation, Inspired by Ancient Nigerian Script, Transforms Phillips Collection Main Visitor Entrance

Titled State of the Union: Things have fallen apart, can the center still hold?, the installation is made of adhesive vinyl that covers the museum's vestibule and is one of three commissions, all by DC-based artists, that celebrate the Phillips’s 100th anniversary this year.Continue reading Local artist Victor Ekpuk’s Graphic Installation, Inspired...

National Gallery of Art to Lift Ticketing Requirements

The National Gallery of Art announced this morning that passes will no longer be required to enter the East or West Buildings beginning on Monday, July 12, when occupancy limits will be lifted. Also on that date, the National Gallery will change its daily hours to 10:00 a.m. to 5:00...

Virginia Museum of Fine Art Announces International Firm SmithGroup Will Design Museum’s New Wing

Following its recent Board of Trustees meeting, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) announced that the integrated design firm SmithGroup has been selected to design the museum’s upcoming $190 million expansion and renovation project. The decision follows a comprehensive international search. Continue reading Virginia Museum of Fine Art Announces International Firm SmithGroup Will...

Nick Cave Truth Be Told Nationwide Public Art Installation Comes to DC

Nick Cave’s text-based video work Truth Be Told (2021) has launched nationwide. The works are part of the artist’s ongoing series of site-specific works by the same name designed in collaboration with creative partner Bob Faust. Continue reading Nick Cave Truth Be Told Nationwide Public Art Installation Comes to DC

Christopher Wool Sculpture Now on View in National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

The National Gallery of Art has acquired its first sculpture by Christopher Wool (b. 1955). Untitled (2017) will be installed in the Sculpture Garden in early summer 2021.Continue reading Christopher Wool Sculpture Now on View in National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

Miss Alma Thomas: A Life in Color Short Documentary Released

Alma W. Thomas, a Black woman artist, broke color barriers on and off the canvas, yet did not receive national attention until she was 80. Alma W. Thomas was an overnight success, 80 years in the making. Continue reading Miss Alma Thomas: A Life in Color Short Documentary Released

Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council Opens new art Gallery and Performance Space Arts’tination at National Harbor

Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council (PGAHC) has launched a brand-new gallery and community art space in the heart of the National Harbor’s Waterfront District, offering an exciting array of visual arts, music programming, workshops, and events throughout the summer. Arts’tination is a joint initiative of PGAHC, National Harbor, and...

Significant Collection of Photographs from Stephen G. Stein Given to National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art announced that Stephen G. Stein has given the museum a superb collection of 161 photographs that includes some of the most admired artists in the history of photography. He has also pledged two works by Romare Bearden and Andrew LaMar Hopkins. These works—66 of which...

National Museum of the American Indian and the Government of the Republic of Peru Sign a Memorandum of Understanding To Return the “Echenique Disc” to Peru

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and the Peruvian government signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate the return to Peru, for the benefit of the citizens of Peru and particularly the Indigenous communities of Peru, of the “Echenique Disc,” a pre-Inka gold ornament recognized as the symbol...

The Parabolic Monolith Iridium is on view at James Monroe Park in Northwest DC through early 2022

Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art (Tephra ICA) presents the Parabolic Monolith Iridium, a public sculpture by light and space artist Gisela Colón. The sculpture is located at the top of James Monroe Park in Washington, DC, steps away from the National Mall, the White House, and the Renwick Gallery. It is...

Dr. Sarah Kennel Named VMFA’s Aaron Siskind Curator of Photography and Director of the Raysor Center

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) has announced the appointment of Dr. Sarah Kennel to the position of Aaron Siskind Curator of Photography and Director of the Raysor Center at VMFA. She will begin the newly developed position in September. Kennel comes to VMFA from the High Museum of...

2021 Bethesda Painting Awards Winners Announced

The Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District announced the top three Bethesda Painting Awards prize winners on Wednesday evening during the exhibition’s opening at Gallery B. Megan Lewis of Baltimore, MD was awarded “Best in Show” with $10,000; Amy Boone-McCreesh of Baltimore, MD was named second place and was given $2,000 and Marybeth Chew of Baltimore, MD received third...

20,000 Sq ft Rainbow Lawn Art Mural for Pride Month: Equilateral Network by Lisa Marie Studio

Celebrating the beginning of LGBTQ Pride month, visual artist Lisa Marie Thalhammer is painting a 20,000 sq/ft rainbow-colored artwork on the lawn of the National Building Museum . Her temporary public artwork is titled “Equilateral Network” and is sponsored by the DowntownDC BID in partnership with the museum. Continue reading...

Jay Coleman is the 2021 East of the River Distinguished Artist Winner

On June 12, 2021, Jay Coleman, a world-class painter, and mural artist, will receive the 2021 East Of The River Distinguished Artist Award from ARCH Development. This award is a celebration of the contributions being made by dynamic artists East of the River. As a professional artist and father, Coleman's...

Montgomery County Council Approves $5.7 Million Budget for the Arts and Humanities

The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) is pleased to announce a $5,707,506 FY22 annual budget appropriation for AHCMC grants and administration and an additional $408,000 for the Public Arts Trust. The $5.7M appropriation was unanimously approved by the Montgomery County Council and represents County Executive Marc Elrich’s...