What’s on Display the Hirshhorn Museum
The Hirshhorn Museum on the National Mall celebrates modern art. Most exhibits in this museum are rotating, so there is always something new to see. You’ll find a lot of color and immersive experiences in this museum, which I think sets it apart from some of the other art museums on the National Mall.
I have always thought that contemporary art museums are great for both serious and casual art lovers. The Hirshhorn Museum always captures my attention and gives me a new perspective, even if I don’t have a lot of context for the art before visiting. I wouldn’t necessarily call this a kid-friendly museum, but if you have slightly older children with an appreciation for art or who love experimenting with their creativity, this can be a wonderful, immersive experience for them.
Are Tickets Required?
Yes and no. Currently, visitors can see everything in the Hirshhorn Museum without tickets except for Osgemeos: Endless Story. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance. The Hirshhorn Museum doesn’t always require tickets, but it is not unusual for this museum to have a particularly popular exhibit that requires tickets for crowd management. Always check the website before you go.
What’s on Display at the Hirshhorn?
OSGEMEOS: Endless Story (temporary – through August 3, 2025): Osgemeos, which means the twins in Portuguese, celebrates the art of Gustavo and Otacio Pandolfo from Sao Paulo. Their works draw inspiration from their heritage and influence from urban and graffiti-style art. The exhibit takes up the entire third floor and feels like stepping into another world filled with sculptures, paintings, lights, and sounds that bring the body of work to life. Tickets are required for this exhibit. Reserve them online here.
Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860-1960 (temporary – through January 3, 2027): On the second floor, you can see works from 117 different artists that showcase the evolution of modern art over a century. You’ll find artists you probably already know like Georgia O’Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, and Jackson Pollock. I loved the layout of this exhibit because there is enough context for visitors to get some background for the pieces, but also leaves plenty of room for you to let the art leave its own impression on you.
Laurie Anderson: Four Talks (ongoing): Laurie Anderson was invited to create this on-site work in 2021. The walls are covered with jokes, lyrics, and political commentary with audio and four sculptures in the center. I love how immersive this experience was and how much time you can spend reading everything on the walls.
The Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden: The garden is currently under a multi-year construction project until mid-2026. However, many outdoor sculptures surround the museum’s perimeter. Inside, you’ll also find a small cafe offering snacks that you can enjoy on the main floor or outside.
Tours
Free guided tours are available on select days. They run about 1 hour and cover a variety of topics depending on what is on display. Check the website for times and topics. You can also stop by the front desk for audio tour information and printed guides for kids.
Getting There
The Hirshhorn Museum is about an 8-minute walk from the Smithsonian Metro stop (Orange, Blue, Silver). It is between the Smithsonian Castle and the Air and Space Museum. It is also directly across from the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. The NGA Sculpture Garden is a great stop if you’d like to see a sculpture garden while the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden is closed. The National Gallery of Art is not part of the Smithsonian but is open at similar hours and free to visit.