Top Modern art museums in Washington, United States

Excellent exhibits focused on more unique mediums than just painting

The exhibit on photography and self expression in China was AMAZING

Good descriptions and context given for a lot of the work to help interpret

Unique circular layout makes for interesting exhibit setups

Modern art is really hit-or-miss, and aside from a few pieces, the exhibitions this month (November 2023) were mostly misses.

If you’re looking to visit, I’d recommend waiting for a new exhibit.

Also, the sculpture garden is temporarily closed.

Great modern art exhibit that you can view in a couple hours or less. There are free lockers on the lower level next to the gift shop.

Absolutely nothing to see. I do not recommend. The only exhibit that was on going was on the second floor with like ten televisions on showing some scenes. Third floor was closed. Nothing on the first floor other than cafe. Only restrooms and gift shops in the basement.

A truly modern museum of art. Some parts are very surreal, some parts are dreamy and other parts are just competing with any other modern museum. The building is very different. Considering Washington DC is super boring this is a great oasis of a dull city.

This was a spectacular place to visit. The building itself is impressive. The only disappointment during this visit was the fountain in the center wasn't working. The one video that was playing with 3 different screens really hit the senses. Overall would definitely go back when new additions are added.

We had a truly unique experience in this walk-through of the wonderfully weird and I would easily rank it amongst my favorite of the DC museums. The curved layout creates an even further sense of wonderment for each exhibit and leaves guests wondering just what on Earth might be around the next corner.

Though many of the pieces are undeniably thought-provoking, others are so abstract that it makes you wonder if YOU are the one on display. I just imagine a focus group watching me to see if I fall for their joke.

The highlight was undoubtedly the Yayoi Kusama collection. Those gnarly orbs are an attraction in itself, but overall offer an interactive experience that makes you feel as if you're walking through her mind.

TIP: Grab your tickets to the Kusama exhibit BEFORE walking through the museum and grab your coffee or tea AFTER walking through, as food & drink aren't allowed. You wouldn't believe how many people we saw make that mistake.

This was a beautiful art museum! The place is free and wasn’t super crowded. The artwork had interesting descriptions and the staff was cool too.

I can't tell you how much I loved this place, I almost wish it was bigger with more huge rooms and longer. I didn't want to leave but it got crowded around 12 on a Saturday. The bar filled up fast. The bartender suggested a mocktail that was SO good. It's like almost a zen club feel too it without the overcrowding and dance music. It's so relaxing, the staff are friendly and fun. Very good energy and vibes. I want to come back for sure, I tried to get the free spaces in the roundabout but asked and couldn't park in front of the apartment building so I found the parking garage right outside. It's $12 for 1 hour or less, it was $15 because I stayed a little over an hour.

I would highly recommend this place for anyone who loves interactive art mixed with technology. It’s all right in the name of the place. We had such a good time and drinks are delicious, a great way to enhance your experience! I got their mochi mocktail and it was fantastic. I recommend sitting in the main gallery for some time to get the full experience and then go off to the side rooms for more fun.

I visited during the PixelBloom / Cherry Blossom exhibit and initially thought.. not a fan of those 2 things. However, the concept and what Artechouse does made those thoughts an afterthought..quickly.

The combo of art and tech is amazing.
Gorgeous displays of color and movement with a hint of interactive pieces was really cool.
I could sit for hours in the large room just relaxing and being immersed.

Definitely hope to visit more locations and exhibits in the future. Highly recommend.

We've been to a couple of the Artechouse exhibits, and as impressed as we were with the first one, each new one gets better and better.

This butterflies exhibit is a feast for the eyes. Absolutely beautiful, and there's no way pictures can possibly do it justice.

You've got to see it for yourself.

This museum itself looks like a work of art. Even though it appears quite large from the outside, I managed to finish viewing all the exhibitions in about 1 hour. The artworks on display mostly leaned towards modern styles, and as someone without much artistic background, I didn't fully understand some pieces, but overall, it was a great experience.

My soul is fed. I could spend the entire day here.

A fun museum of modern art, smaller than the other Smithsonians. Visiting probably takes less than a day. Like all the others, it is free. Just a warning, the collection is entirely, relentlessly modern, so if that isn't an aesthetic you enjoy, you might want to consider some other destination. It probably also won't be high on the list if you're trying to do the standard dc patriotic circuit. The architecture of the building and the surrounding gardens and sculptures contribute wonderfully to the impact of a visit. Too bad the main sculpture garden has been under repair for so long.

The American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center is a small but well-curated museum located in Washington, DC. The museum's permanent collection focuses on the art history of Washington, DC, but it also hosts rotating exhibitions of contemporary art from around the globe.

I had the opportunity to visit the museum today 07/21/23 and I was very impressed with the quality of the work on display. I particularly enjoyed the exhibitions by Leigh Wen, Rhoda Baer, and Pilar Albarracín. Wen's paintings are incredibly beautiful and her sculptures are both haunting and thought-provoking. Albarracín's installations are powerful and challenging, and they really made me think about the world around me in a new way. There was also an exhibition of photographs from Ukraine pre war. Which made it seem like a place that was still damaged from WWII.

The museum is also home to a number of educational resources, including a learning lab, a theater, and a variety of public programs. I would highly recommend visiting the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center if you are interested in contemporary art or the art history of Washington, DC.

Here are some additional thoughts on the four exhibitions I mentioned:

Leigh Wen: At One with the Elements I was really drawn to the way that Wen's paintings and sculptures capture the beauty and power of nature. Her work is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant.
Pilar Albarracín: Take a Knife and Open My Heart Albarracín's installations are incredibly powerful and thought-provoking. They challenge us to think about difficult issues such as gender, violence, and social injustice.

Rupert Garcia and the Chicano Art Movement: Prints and Posters from the Corcoran Legacy Collection This exhibition was a great introduction to the work of Rupert Garcia and the Chicano art movement. Garcia's work is both visually striking and politically engaged.

Glass Sculptures by Rhoda Baers Baers' glass sculptures are incredibly beautiful and intricate. They are also technically impressive, and they demonstrate the artist's mastery of her medium. The way she plays with light and Glass is impressive. Bonus was that I got a chance to meet the artist while I was there.

Overall, I had a great experience at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center. The museum is home to a wide variety of high-quality art, and it offers a number of educational resources. I would highly recommend visiting the museum if you are interested in contemporary art or the art history of Washington, DC.

Amazing art gallery. The outside sculpture gardens are worth the visit alone. The architecture of the building is so unique and leads to interesting displays. We caught the last day of the Yayoi Kusama infinite displays for 2023 and it was so cool especially the dark one with the lights. Rest of the gallery had some cool stuff especially Laurie Anderson's Four Talks.

I always love popping in here for a quick visit whenever they get a new gallery. This one was so gorgeous with a lot of different meaningful exhibits of a wide variety of mediums. Entrance is free and they also have bathrooms and a gift shop. Came here on a Sunday and it was not too crowded

A surprisingly well-curated museum that has rotating exhibits that are so interesting and interactive. All the art pieces are well-explained and well-documented. Since it is a Smithsonian Museum, it is free to enter.

It is a smaller museum with two levels. It is air-conditioned, has bathrooms, and there is a bag check at the door.

Recommend stopping on the second level to lie on one's back and marvel at the sculpture overhead.

Artechouse in Washington DC is highly recommended at least by us! We had the most amazing time while here! It was worth every penny paid! It is for all ages and if you love art and having interaction with it well you will love this! It was a blast! The environment was clean, they had an elevator, public restrooms, a guide, and we walked in at the perfect time to join the group that had already been gathered. The temperature was comfortable and the people were kind and considerate. Thank you Artechouse! We will be coming back, or going to one of the other locations! The theme this time was ‘pixel bloom’. Loved it!

This was a great experience! Got to see the Timeless Butterflies event, which was very interactive and visually impressive. Another plus is that some of the exhibits are puzzles, but even if you were there to "flail around" and interact for your own enjoyment it was great. Would definitely recommend!

An incredibly well curated museum with rotating exhibits. Security will THOROUGHLY check your bag so try to have all the pockets/bags ready to present. The exhibit right now focuses on indigenous people and is well worth a visit. Also they have one of the best gift shops!

The gallery was simply beautiful. There were so many creative and diverse works of art. The main room with the flowing net drapes and lights were the best part! Spent several hours here.

The best museum we saw all week! It’s a much smaller, quieter little spot to spend an hour or so. So many works of art from across the country with great descriptions and stories. We were blown away with the variety and the storytelling. Definitely a good addition to your trip itinerary.

Interesting spot to walk around. Definitely enjoyed the exhibits. Took about an hour to walk around, not including the one exhibit that required timed passes. Was disappointed that timed passes weren’t advertised well, because that exhibit was my main point of interest. That’s on me though, I should have looked more closely. I just don’t understand how you only have one exhibit require timed advanced day tickets but not the rest of the museum. Some spots of the museum felt sparse, but overall, it was a lovely visit.

We had such a phenomenal time at the Butterfly exhibit.
Our sons age 7/11 love the interactive part of it as well. We did to. It was fun for us all to participate and learn! Definitely must see! Take the kids!

Amazing experience ! The art work is incredible. I am not a geek about art nor I understand art. But it was an amazing experience. The contemporary photographer was like never seen before. The four talk room was an eye opener, there were so many messages to the new world that we live in and portrayed in such a beautiful way. A must visit museum in DC and it’s free. We missed the show because we didn’t know we had to buy the tickets - which is free though. Next time we will make sure we get the tickets and see the show.

The museum is free (except for paid tickets to special exhibits, which we did not venture into). They had a wide variety of modern art. It was very interesting, and we spent several hours taking it all in- it is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside! Not all the exhibits are the most family-friendly because they deal with some adult themes/serious themes.

My favorite museum in DC (and visited all of them when I lived there 2016/17). I love it because it is perfectly curated, not crowded, and both space and art feel authentic. Innovative art and crafts focusing on American artists. It is small. If you are a reader like me, budget 1.5 to 2 hours. If not, you can probably see everything in 30 min. Make sure to budget some time to lay on the carpet and enjoy the installation on the upper floor; it is transcendent. While much of the museum peices displayed changed in the last 5 years, a few, including the top floor installation, have not.

I can't believe I lived in the area for years and haven't been here before.

This is an incredible museum with so many interesting pieces, from furniture, to pottery, to modern art and so much more. And, it's free?!

There are so many pieces that I would initially find visually interesting. Then, I'd read the context and story behind the artist's intention, and the piece got a million times more interesting.

I went on a Saturday afternoon and it was busy but not too crowded or noisy. I noticed a lot of younger folks there and everyone there was super stylish and seemed super hip. So, it seemed like a great place for a date! A lot of talking points and interesting pieces.

An amazing art museum that really made you *feel* the art and the emotions they bring up. I recommend the 12.30 free tour as you learn a lot more than just personally viewing. The special exhibits require free tickets do to space. They are released the day before at 12pm online. So plan in advance or you'll have to come another day foe the special exhibit, like me. There's a simple cafe and great gift shop and some kids activities as well.

Beautiful space to see art. Modern building with large, open spaces. Has a nice shop that offers a good selection and reasonably priced objects
There are students about, so it appears to have classes there. Auditorium space, which I think is not related to the museum. I think they offer music and lectures.
Underground parking, free in the evening

Best looking DC area Museum and easily the one with the most diverse exhibitions as well as the only DC area museum to show area artists. Easy parking under the building.

It was rainy out so we decided to give thus a try and we are so glad we did. This place was amazing and yes the drinks were too! They Aldo offer mocktails whichni thought was a bonus.

The museum's exterior is currently under renovation but it is open to visitors and the exhibits, especially Laurie Anderson's "The Weather" & Mark Bradford's "Pickett's Charge" are awesome!

The Katzen Museum is fighting hard for the top spot as my favorite place for art in DC. Yes it’s fighting the Hirshorn, it’s fighting NGA, it’s fighting Phillips and the like! The seasonal exhibits (Spring and Fall) are always curated with the highest attention to visual stimulation, engagement, with beautiful story telling. I’m always impressed and always want to be here. One of my favorite spots in the city

I've been here a bunch of times, three or more floors of art. Great when there's an art show opening (though people get trapped downstairs near the food and drink since you can't bring food or drink into the art space). My only suggestion would be for art opening talks to take place in an auditorium space instead of in the first floor next to the art.

In addition to curating spectacular exhibitions of Washington area artists, the display, hanging and lighting of each show is perfectly balanced. I've never entered this space and thought it was under or overhung, work was misplaced or badly lit. Everything is always exactly right.

Nice modern art exhibition. There's a cafeteria inside in case you want to have tea or coffee time with your friends