Can’t Miss Art Exhibits to Kick-Off 2020
Winter can be a little dreary around the city. The holiday lights have disappeared and we are all waiting for cherry blossom season to begin. However, this doesn’t mean we are short on activities. The winter months can be one of the best times to visit the museums. With fewer tourists, it can be easier to explore without the crowds. Escape cabin fever and head to one of these new art exhibits in DC.
Artechouse
Artechouse in L’Enfant Plaza is a unique art showcase with rotating exhibits that leverage light, sound, and technology to create beautiful visial displays. Through March 1, don’t miss Future Sketches by Zach Lieberman. This exhibit showcases Lieberman’s art created through innovative coding. As his first solo work, Lieberman brings colors and light to life like you’ve never seen it before.
Purchase tickets online for a discount: $16 for adults, $13 for students, seniors, and miliary, $8 for children 2-14.
Where: L’Enfant Plaza
Nearby Food: Head to the Wharf – outdoor seafood market, Hank’s Oyster Bar, Mi Vida, Del Mar
National Geographic Museum
We are quickly approaching the 100th anniversary of one of the first big milestones in women’s voting rights. The National Geographic Museum celebrates with an exhibit open through spring 2020. Women: A Century of Change showcases who women have been and where they are going. National Geographic digs deep into their archives to pull photography and artifacts for this stunning exhibit. Open daily 10 am to 6 pm. Cost is $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, $10 for children, free under 4.
Where: Dupont Circle
Nearby Food: Shake Shack, Vapiano, St. Arnold’s Mussel Bar, Daily Grill, Boqueria
Slacker Gallery
The Slacker Gallery (along with the Freer Gallery) is home to all things Asian art. Beginning in 2020, the gallery features a virtual exhibition highlighting three cities: Palmyra and Aleppo in Syria and Mosul in Iraq. These cities are among the oldest, uninterrupted human settlements in the world. However, they have been recently devasted by war. The exhibit, Age Old Cities, strives to showcase and preserve these cities digitally for future generations. Open January 25 through October 25, 2020. Free.
Hirshhorn
The Hirshhorn is always full of thoughtful contemporary art. This winter, check out their largest art installation to date: Color Wheel by Pat Steir. 30 large scale paintings create an explosive experience of color which is sure to lift any winter blues. Open through September 7, you’ll have most of 2020 to enjoy this new art display. Plus, if the weather is nice, explore the outdoor sculpture garden. Open daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm. Free.
Where: National Mall
Nearby Food: Elephant and Castle, Ollie’s Trolly, Hill Country BBQ, Oyamel
The National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery is another place to celebrate women’s progress over the year. Through May 31, check out Women of Progress: Early Camera Portraits. As portrait photography became more popular in the 1840s and 1850s, so did women’s presence in public life. Check out these portraits of the first feminist icons. Open daily 11:30 am to 7:00 pm. Free.
Where: Chinatown
Nearby Food: Oyamel, Jaleo, Shake Shack, Clyde’s, The Smith, Zaytinya
Renwick Gallery
Yet another celebration of women will find its way to DC February 21 – May 17. The Renwick Gallery will host Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists showcasing the art of Native American women. Women are often credited as being a huge part of the Native American art scene. But they are often celebrated as anonymous reflections of an entire culture. This exhibit strives to highlight individual women artists and their unique contributions. Open daily 10 am to 5:30 pm. Free.
Where: Near the White House
Nearby Food: Grilled Cheese DC (closed Sundays), The Hamilton, Old Ebbitt Grill