This was a nice free gallery to pass an hour with installations, and a mix of contemporary and classical art. Neighboring the White House, I imagine this spot gets somewhat lost in the shuffle but I enjoyed it for a quick pit stop. There were few people inside which made it easier to navigate and enjoy at our own pace. I especially enjoyed the current wooden room installation that served as an altar/memorial of sorts for guests to contribute to the art by writing a note on a wooden square to a loved one that has passed. The exhibit was peaceful and reminded be of Turkish/mosque designs with its intricate craftsmanship and low lighting. Overall, a fun and worthy spot to pass an hour or so and explore the galleries. read more

Renwick Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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On a recent trip to DC, we took advantage of this free museum right next to the White House. They had a very cool exhibit in the front gallery with iPads where you could see virtual reality plants. The exhibit combined art and technology, making it very interactive. We also enjoyed some of the permanent exhibits and some of the other plant and nature themed sculptures in the back gallery. There is a very cute gift shop in the middle of the gallery. Check out this gallery! Totally worth the trip! read more

Renwick Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I decided to be a tourist for the day and Renwick has been on my list for a while. I love art, however this museum is not that "artsy" in my opinion. Also, I was under the impression that the museum would be a little bigger (there's only a couple of rooms). It's a good walk through if you have about 30 mins to spare. read more

Renwick Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This museum is one of my Smithsonian favorites - it's usually not crowded so you can visit at your own pace. Don't miss the gift shop! read more

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This is one of my favorite museums of all the Smithsonian. Although it's not so huge as the others and tucked away from them, it has one of the most compelling exhibits I've ever seen. I try to come out here once every couple months. My favorite installation (soon to be removed) is David Best's temple, just up the long red-carpeted staircase. It's sad to read all of the messages to those who have passed away, but encouraging to know that one is not alone, and at some point everyone will lose someone. A bit depressing but understandable that evidently they discard the memory cards on a weekly basis. The one I had written in memory of my boyfriend was long removed, but at least I got a photo of my message at the installation. read more

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One of my favorite gallery's in the area. Free admission and plenty of street parking. There's always a new exhibit every couple of months. Usually takes around 30-60 minutes to navigate throughout the gallery. Highly recommend going early on the weekends as it does get packed. No reservations needed and all bags are searched at the entrance. Sanitizing stations located on each floor and masks required read more

Renwick Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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If you're looking for a quick stop at one of the various art museums, check out Renwick gallery! This free spot has lots of cool art and exhibits available. It's not so large that it feels overwhelming, but not short that you feel there isn't much. They have different exhibits throughout the year so I hope to come back when new ones arrive! read more

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Came to see The burning man exhibit with a friend from out of town! It was pretty cool and great for photo opportunities. Cool information about the festival, and a great insight on the art exhibitions that are done every year. Fascinating to see the materials used for most of the pieces, you would never guess some of the things that are used to make art pieces just by looking at them from afar. It was a bit crowded during the weekend but we still had a good time. It took us about an hour to see the whole thing. read more

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I had such a great time here on our first visit! There were four artist exhibits downstairs when we came on a recent rainy weekday, and I enjoyed these mostly 3-D installations especially because the pieces by each artist were very unique in theme and material. I particularly liked stepping under this giant roof hanging from the ceiling where I felt like I had just stepped into a hut or something. At least half the exhibit space upstairs was closed on this visit, but The Temple memorial was memorable to me. It was a wholly wooden structure for visitors to bring/leave messages for loved ones they've lost, and it definitely had that solemn vibe, although there were quite a few messages and scribbles which were anything but. Up on the ceiling above the stairway, icicle-like light rods put on an LED display which was pretty and fitting since the doorway to The Temple was right off the top of the stairway. All in all we really enjoyed our visit. read more

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The Renwick Gallery in D.C. is where to go for unusual artwork. It's a small museum that took only about an hour to go through, but I definitely thought it was time well spent. The museum wasn't overly crowded, so I felt very relaxed. My favorite was Janet Echelman's woven sculpture...it was breathtaking. And the gift shop is amazing. read more

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Located near the White House and being a free Smithsonian museum, the Renwick Gallery is a great place for both tourists and locals alike to visit for a couple of hours. I have seen two separate exhibits here and neither took longer than a couple of hours to browse making it a good break between doing other touristy things nearby or a break from, for me at least, work I brought home from my job that I just couldn't look at anymore. I cannot recall the name of the first exhibit I saw but it was when it first reopened and was extremely popular on Instagram. I was really impressed by the level of interaction involved with the installations and the curation of each was fabulous. The more recent exhibit I saw here was the Burning Man exhibit and while it had slightly fewer interactive experiences, there were still several (the color changing mushrooms were pretty cool as was the huge temple room) that were engaging. It was really cool to learn the history of the Burning Man festival and the non-profit organization that has risen up out of it too. I noticed a lot of young babies here which I can see them being fascinated with some of the light and sound displays. It also seemed like an equal mix of locals and tourists. It was pretty crowded on the Saturday afternoon I visited it; it was also blazing hot so I'm not surprised it was crowded since it provided refuge from the sun. I don't think strollers are allowed-which makes sense given the tight spaces-so be sure to bring a baby carrier if you bring a little one. I'd definitely recommend stopping in soon to see the Burning Man exhibit if you have not already because I overhead a security guard telling someone that they are going to begin tearing it down, starting on the second floor, in late September although it is advertised as being on display until January. read more

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They always has amazing exhibition. Currently they have a glass collection that is stunning. And this beautiful installation on the 2nd floor, the topic of this art is sad but it is really pretty to see read more

Renwick Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Eclectic modern art museum. There are always new exhibits and transformative works of art here. Although the museum is cozy with only a few rooms, each room leaves you with awe. I saw the Burning Man exhibit inspired by the Black Rock Desert of Nevada annual summer event. The wood panel temple was really ornate and impressive. I saw a lot of notes that other people left and was tempted to leave one. The moving mushroom life structures were my favorite! You can see how the material compacts and the shape of the structure changes upon tapping on the footpad. It's quite mesmerizing, and I took a few videos. I really like the luminous intricate polygons, there was a room full of them in different sizes. Renwick Gallery isn't your typical art museum, you won't be seeing any paintings here. The out of box creative works of art will tickle your curiosity and challenge your imagination. read more

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Ok .... so this was my favorite museum thus far. Maybe because it was the Burning Man Exhibit and it was SUPER COOL!!!! The Renwick is an extension of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and is located like 10 blocks away and it's FREE! Yay! I'm a fan of Burning Man so I was already excited to see this exhibit. The 1st Floor had relics and loads of information about Burning Man as well as an interactive 3D goggles to give you a feeling as if you were at Burning Man. 1st floor also had a few works by Android Jones- a cool artist I started following in IG so it was super cool to see one of my favorite pieces by him. 2nd floor also had relics from Burning Man .... but had a cool and zen like vibe . Large glowing mushrooms that changed shape, a large temple room that you could put your wishes on small wood chips to put on the shrine and there was my favorite room that had a Burning Man in the middle of the room and a robotic Gameltron was playing in the room. So beautiful- I wanted to stay there all day. I think this exhibit is there until September 2018 and I definitely want to come back before it ends ~~~~~~~~ UPDATE- 1st floor of exhibit closed sept 16 2nd floor open until January 21st 2019 ( see photo of flyer I had when I 1st went in spring 2018) read more

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I thought this would be more like a gallery that had a few paintings on the wall or something where you stroll in, glance, if you are rich you may look at prices, then move on. When I came during the Burning Man exhibit, it was much more like an installation/museum experience with a lot of things to look at. It's more like a small but well-filled free contemporary art museum, what's cooler than that? It was a little crowded but it wasn't too bad to move around. It's also a nice indoor place to check out and there were some benches around in case you need to take a moment off your feet. It was on my route from point A to point B and I was intrigued enough to go in, so it is definitely worth a few minutes to check out if you are in the general area. read more

Renwick Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been here twice and have really enjoyed it both times! The main exhibit this time was the burning man. There's many paintings, sculptures, and jewelry explaining the burning man event. The main burning man exhibit is in the large room once you go up the flight of stairs. The last exhibit I went to was "Wonder" which was made of colorful strings. There's FREE admission and it's a great touristy spot to spend about 40-45 minutes at or cool off before doing another activity in the city. They have a few interactive rooms on the upper level that are entertaining. read more

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Not to be missed museum of American crafts. A part of the Smithsonian, admission is free. Exhibits always include wonderful examples of varied crafts, including fiber, metalwork, ceramics, and furniture, but often much, much more. The museum is relatively small but still plan to spend about an hour. Very near the White House and Lafayette square, and walkable close to the Washington Monument. read more

The Renwick Gallery reopened in 2015 and since has established itself as a MUST SEE museum in Washington, D.C. Located one block from the White House, it's easy to stop by while you're sightseeing. Here's why it's worth it: 1) Cutting edge experiential art: They reopened with an exhibit called Wonder that at the time was the most Instagrammed museum in DC. They hit a lull until they opened No Spectators in March 2018. Both exhibits experiment with light, color, and interactive art leaving you with a sense of wonder about our world. It's inspiring! 2) Space: There are only two floors and about 8-10 rooms to go through so you can easily stop by on your way to the White House or National Mall. 3) Great store: Their museum store sells stuff that is actually helpful and interesting. 4) Price: It's free. Welcome to Washington, D.C.! read more

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This is a small modern gallery in DC. Some installations are permanent but most are rotating. I highly recommend visiting this. It's quick, well organized, courteous staff. read more

Such a nice gallery: high ceiling, great exhibits, wonderful artists. A place not to miss when visiting DC read more

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Define week is a bite-size portion that is rich and ample in terms of aesthetics and content. It's one of my favorite museums in DC because you can take it all in and And enjoy it without feeling overwelhmed. read more

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Just like the art that is exhibited here, the Renwick Gallery is a constantly changing environment presenting superb examples of American Crafts and decorative Arts ... and, during the time of our visit even more in the form of "immersive room-sized installations, costumes, jewelry, and ephemera" from the annual Burning Man Festival in the Nevada. This installation is titled, "No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man" - meaning, YOU are invited to be a part, not just an on-looker. This eclectic electric (temporary) collection of "stuff" is beautiful, intriguing, and just plain fun. (Two older guests who accompanied us had been hoping for just a standard American crafts show. But they soon became immersed and impressed participants and left with a greater understanding of this festival.) This is a great gallery and, as I said in the first paragraph, always changing, always evolving, always involving people who love art. read more

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This is not your typical art show. The designs are unique in so many ways. One can easily find something to love here. For me, I found most of the creations to be exquisite. Seeing another's take on the world is always refreshing. There are so many crafts and stories one would never know otherwise. History, cultural and craft all rolled into one beautiful story done so well. And the gift shop is where I lost my marbles! I bought my first 3D made object; vase! How cool is that?! Go here if you want a refreshing take on things. You won't be disappointed! read more

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If you've got a few free hours and want to go somewhere engaging and fun in DC I definitley reccomend this phenomenal museum. There is off street parking a short walk away- and entry is free! There are different sections with different types of art- there is even a room in which you can write a "note" for a departed loved one- and the room is silent and you can feel this calming energy of the people around you who are respecting the sacred space it is intended to be. I was fully engaged in my experience here and enjoyed reading the "about" sections under most pieces. read more

Renwick Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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October 2019 review: there is an outstanding retrospective exhibition of Michael Sherrill's work with ceramics. The imagination, techniques, workmanship are outstanding. I t is on the first floor of temporary exhibits and I believe will be there for the next three months or so. Strongly recommend . I will go back to see it one more time read more

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Located just steps from the White House and recently renovated, the Renwick Gallery should be on every instagrammer's to do list. Whenever it is, they'll have at least one exhibit that would be perfect for anyone's picture collection. With exhibits like Wonder (about a year ago) inundating everyone's instagram feed, I knew I had to visit. The Renwick Gallery is a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and it features American contemporary craft. The best part the entrance is free and not time limited so you can enjoy it as long as you want. Make sure to check out their website for cool exhibitions! read more

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The Renwick officially reopened in 2015, and boy, am I glad it did. Also, thank you Jackie Kennedy for believing in an "American Louvre"; otherwise we might not have this treasure around today. The first exhibit I saw here was "Wonder", which housed Plexus A1 (the HUGE rainbow made of string), Folding the Chesapeake (which was basically a map of the water in the area made out of marbles), Middle Fork (a HUGE replica of a hemlock tree suspended from the ceiling), Shindig (these HUGE crazy bird nest things), an Untitled project by Tara Donovan (kind of looked like the huge trash stack from Fraggle Rock), and Renwick 1.8 (a ginormous model of the seismic waves from the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami that hung from the ceiling of the great hall). Currently, it's housing an exhibit on Burning Man called: "No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man". As I'm sure you will expect from the last exhibit I described, this one too is larger than life. The paper arch, the HUGE sculpture of a dancing woman ("the truth is beauty"), the tinpan dragon, the evotrope, Hybycozo, the Temple, Shrumen Lumen; are all big and bold and beautiful, and well, you just want to stare at them... for a long time. So plan accordingly. Then there is Nova and virtual reality demos that are interactive and so neat. Not to mention the pictures of the playa, burning man history, and fellow burners that are walking around engaging people and answering questions. The line is worth the wait. read more

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I went here for the Burning Man exhibition on a Saturday a few months ago and was really impressed by this place! For a free art museum, it really contains a lot of interesting and unique pieces of art. The gallery isn't gigantic by any means but I kind of like that because you don't feel really overwhelmed. They do a bunch of rotating exhibits here which is fun because you can always see something new. I think they are always pretty interesting. And it's free! You can't go wrong there. read more

I like this small museum a lot. It's one of my favorite museum in DC. There is always something new and interesting to check here. They. Constantly changing the exhibit. It's centrally located next to the White House. It's small and it's free. I find it unique and fun. Don't miss it! read more

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Awesome gallery. It was hard to find parking so I ended up being late to the seminar and no seats were left :-( The speaker was Bruce Goldfarb from the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. It focused on the miniature world of the Nutshell Studies. He shared insights into "Murder Is Her Hobby: Frances Glessner Lee and The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death" exhibition. The dioramas played in advancing the field of forensics and he explained their necessary role in training future investigators. It was my first time and I was amazed by the exhibit. I went back that Sunday with my son back who was taking a forensic class at the time and there was a line even though it was raining outside. I couldn't believe it was here for over two months! See the photos I added. I will definitely stop by this gallery whenever I'm in DC. read more

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Worst art museum in DC. They do not make good use of the space, and only carry a handful of mediocre pieces. When I went they wasted their largest room on a single piece of "art" - basically just string lights nailed to the ceiling, and that's it. If you want a good art museum, go to the National Gallery or something, so not waste your time here. read more

Tucked just steps away from the White House the Renwick Gallery is a gem of creativity. Outside you may find many protests and tourists, but inside the gallery creates artistic exhibits that very depending on the show. The gallery building is interestIng to walk in by itself. It is not so much a traditional paint canvas gallery but focused on exhibits. read more

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The security guards at this museum belittled my wife for her use of a service animal and made her feel profoundly uncomfortable. A very disturbing and discriminatory experience. read more

Renwick Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I love the Renwick. The exhibits, such as "Wonder" or "Art of Burning Man" are always funky and fun. I like that they have plenty of modern, sculptural, and interactive art along with more traditional forms. The exhibits are usually crowded, since the gallery is small, yet popular, but I find weekdays around 3:30 or 4 are the best time to visit. I always look forward to their offerings. read more

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Awesome free gallery! Not a lot of places to park. Exhibits change about every 6 months. The current exhibit with glass is cool. Tight spaces that could be challenging for people with mobility issues. Upstairs is accessible by elevator. read more

Wow this place was nothing short of amazing! I wish I would've gotten more pictures but I truly was living in the moment and enjoying this museum with my husband. This museum is free, but do take donations if you want to be nice. It's very clean,and it's right down the street from the beautiful White House. When you enter this museum you will have to get your bag check, but after enjoy! I think this is something to do to kill free time and you can be in this museum from 30 minutes - an hour! It's very nice! I highly recommend read more

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I booked a trip with my friends to DC because of the burning man exhibit and I was not disappointed. It was absolutely stunning. All the rooms displayed something amazing and so creative. My friends and I stayed there a little over an hour and it was super packed. The great part was it was all free. No admission and no fees of any kind, which was a huge shocker because I would've gladly paid to go see any of these art pieces any day. My favorite was David Best "Temple." It'll be on display until 2020 so there are more chances for me to go back and see it again. It's absolutely stunning and so grand. I'll be sure to come back and view their upcoming future exhibits when I get the chance. It's definitely a place to go visit when you're in town. read more

Renwick Gallery - temple - Art Galleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I absolutely love the Renwick. It's located right across from the front gates of the White House making it the perfect place to pop in on your tour of DC. It is a two story gallery filled with large art pieces. I kind of think of it as an Instagram museum. Everything is beautiful and picture perfect. I love that they have various art pieces that always rotate through. On a recent visit, I was able to see a whole collection of pieces from burning man. It was really interesting to learn more about the festival and to see artifacts from its history. They also had a really cool display of braided ropes that are commonly placed near the border. This gallery is beautiful and you can enter free of charge. It takes less than an hour to get through the entire place. read more

The Renwick is a part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, but it's a smaller gallery located right near the White House. They rotate the exhibits out periodically, so it's worth checking their website to see what's currently on exhibit. The art that was on display while I visited was definitely thought provoking. I'm also a fan of the architecture of the gallery itself. It's a great space for pictures. Definitely worth a visit! read more

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This is a must see gallery. The pieces are gorgeous. It was free to get in and is a nice little gem for something to do out side of the other typical museums. They allow you to take pictures and encourage you to tag them on social. I would go back just to see these two pieces in the pictures attached! read more

Renwick Gallery - Art Galleries Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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