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    Rubell Museum

    4.5 (39 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe
    Alexis B.

    And just when I was starting to think I'd been to all of DC's great museums! I visited the Rubell a couple of weeks ago when I spent the day in DC. We were in the Wharf/Navy Yard area for something, and I saw the Rubell on the map and decided we should check it out. I'm so glad we did. It really blew me away. The Rubell is a houses a private collection of contemporary art. When we visited, they had two excellent exhibitions - one on the work of Alexandre Diop and one highlighting the work of 25 contemporary artists. I consider myself a pretty artsy person, but I wasn't familiar with many of the artists who work was exhibited when we visited (except for Mickalene Thomas and John Waters), but I left a fan of so many others - Amoako Boafo, February James, Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe, Alexandre Diop....! The museum is located inside a 1906 building that used to house a historically Black public school (Randall Junior High School) before it ceased operations in 1978. The building has several levels and was larger than I thought it would be - and beautifully renovated for its new purpose! There's a coffee shop and small shop at the entrance, which was nice (the espresso I ordered really hit the spot)! DC residents visit for free, but I was happy to pay the $15 admission to see these amazing exhibits. I will absolutely keep my eyes out for a future exhibit at the Rubell. It shot straight up to the top of my favorite museums in DC list, and I'm excited to return!

    Tara L.

    I can't believe I waited so long to drop by the Rubell Museum. As someone that lives within walking distance, I almost took it for granted with the assumption that I could drop by anytime. While that might be true, the installations do change annually and although I was unaware of that at the moment, we are now just 5 days away before they close for a month while they switch out the current art that is on display. Wow is all I can say. Admission is free for DC residents and the museum is beautiful, with lots of natural light. I was amazed by the range of contemporary art - from the controversial and provocative to the stunning imagery throughout. With three floors to explore, the museum was actually larger than I expected but still only took me about an hour to explore at a leisurely pace. This is truly an incredible place and I feel so fortunate to have a museum like this that cares are representation nearby. I will be sure to not wait nearly as long to return!

    Kehinde Wiley, "Sleep"
    Natalie M.

    The Rubelll Museum is a former Junior High school that opened as a contemporary art museum in October 2022. It's off the beaten path as far as DC Museums go and is worth a visit if you enjoy art. The entryway of the museum can be seen through the glass doors as you approach the building. It features a small coffee shop (Grace Coffee), an admissions desk, and a tiny gift shop. After paying my donation, I entered the "What's Going On" exhibit, which consists of an expansive room with tons of natural sunlight and four enormous art pieces by artists Vaughn Spann, Christopher Myers, El Anatsui, and Kehinde Wiley. I was already familiar with Kehinde Wiley's work, but I was particularly drawn to Myers' piece called Earth. The smooth notes of Marvin Gaye's song "What's Going On" played softly from a nearby stereo. A long bench was strategically placed in front of each artwork to allow you to sit and absorb the messages in each painting. I visited the exhibits in other rooms and saw provocative works of art with various social justice themes from the financial crisis of 2008, to exploitation in popular culture, to intersectionality. I was glad that I decided to visit during the morning to avoid the crowds and explore the museum at my pace. I wasn't fond of all the art, but all were conversation pieces for sure! The museum will close for a week in October to install new exhibits, so plan accordingly if you're planning to visit in the near future. DC residents can visit for free! Non-resident admission is $10-15 on the weekends and pay what you wish on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

    Kate H.

    Thrilled to have another contemporary art museum in DC! It's free year-round to DC residents (sorry, tourists) which is great. The building isn't enormous (you can cycle through the floors in a couple of hours) but they change out the exhibitions regularly so there's reason to come back. Currently they're featuring a lot of East Coast-based artists, with some African (Ghanaian and Ethiopian) mixed in. A lot of really interesting painting and sculpture on the Black experience. I will definitely be back! Bonus: small coffee bar in the lobby from Grace Street Coffee, which has decent espresso. (Also a small gift shop area, mostly books.)

    Mary T.

    If you want to see contemporary and thought-provoking art and what today's young artists are creating, look no further than the Rubell Museum! My friend and I spent almost an hour and a half exploring here and I was surprised because I thought it would be smaller! The museum is free for DC residents, but if you don't live in DC they have pay what you wish donations Wednesday through Friday and on the weekends adult tickets are $15. The lobby also has a gift shop and Grace Street Coffee. The first artist you will see upon walking in is Franco-Senegalese artist Alexandre Diop, who uses mixed media and found objects to explore topics like colonialism. It is quite striking to view from farther away and up close. The architecture of the renovated school building is beautiful and minimal, putting a spotlight on the art work. Other favorites included the colorful and rhinestone art of Mickalene Thomas and Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe's Black cowboys. I thoroughly enjoyed viewing everyone's works! It was very refreshing to see contemporary, young, and diverse artists, both local and international. I think they change up their art and exhibits, so it is worth a revisit!

    Sarah A.

    I enjoy this museum and they change the exhibits often so there is always something new. If you are a DC resident with ID, you can visit for free. They also have a cafe in the entrance that makes a really good matcha latte.

    Vaughan Spann, Big Black Rainbow (Smokey eyes), 2019
    Tania A.

    When the Rubell Museum first opened in 2022, there was a lot of buzz going around about the new privately owned museum. And after my first visit, I absolutely understood why!!! From the architecture of the building, right through to the art work on display... I was in awe & artistic heaven. You'll find elaborate installation pieces using a multitude of materials and medians, woodburn drawings, acrylic, watercolour, oil and polymer paintings, sculptures, and photography throughout the gallery. There are pieces from Keith Haring, Kehinde Wiley, Sylvia Snowden, Vaughn Spann and so many more talented artists.

    DeMario M.

    One of the newest museums to the DC area. This museum is masterfully curated. It features a myriad of black contemporary artists. The art is staged throughout the gallery on three floors including a basement level. The exhibitions delight, educate and inspire the aesthete. Museum is free but donations are encouraged.

    Austin G.

    "D.C.'s Whitney Museum" is how ClockOutDC (a website and Instagram you must follow) called the new Rubell Museum. Located in a 1906 Black school building that also was once a shelter for those experiencing homelessness and artists' studios, the Rubell Museum houses 190 pieces of art from 37 contemporary artists. More than masterpieces, the voices behind them is what the museum wants to elevate. Each artist focuses their work on the world's most pressing social and political issues. After visiting for a media preview, here's my experience: 1) Admission: Open Wednesday through Sunday in the late morning to early evening, admission is FREE for D.C. residents, veterans, EBT card holders, and those with disabilities. In fact, those with ADA disabilities can bring a plus one for free and EBT card holders can bring three others for free. Everyone else must pay between $10-$15 per ticket. 2) Space: Preserving the historic school, tall windows let lots of natural light into the exhibit halls. Past the gift shop is a large lobby with several large scale pieces. Walk up the stairs to two additional levels and walk down for the basement of art. It took me 60 minutes to walk through it all, reading the plaques and experiencing the art. Every piece is interesting and thought-provoking. 3) Exhibit: The first exhibit is honoring singer/songwriter Marvin Gaye, who graduated from Randall School years ago. A stand out if the room of gold items in the basement and every piece in the lobby hall. 4) Staff: A few people on staff wander the floors and gladly answer questions. 5) Location: It's in Southwest Waterfront a few blocks from the Waterfront and Navy Yard Metro stations. Nearby are parks, playgrounds, views of the U.S. Capitol, community gardens, and more.

    Annie F.

    Situated between Navy Yard and the Wharf, this new museum splashes art into the neighborhood. The building features floor-to-ceiling windows, which ensure softly illuminated exhibits. In addition, the different floors have different treatments from simple, clean backgrounds to a rougher brick backdrop in the basement. Admission is free for DC residents. Make sure to bring your ID! Anyone else visiting the museum will pay $10-15 per ticket. The staff is fantastic, helping direct visitors to the rooms and answering any questions about the exhibits. The art curation is masterfully done to showcase modern, thought-provoking art. The collection has over 7,400 works from 1,000+ artists. It's a great complement to the other museums throughout Washington, DC.

    Jackie V.

    Amazing museum! The art here is so cool and nothing like the Smithsonian museums. Entry is free for DC residents and about an hour to look through. Plenty of space to sit & chat with a friend after. Accessible, LGBTQ friendly, and plenty of street parking nearby.

    See the beautiful museum structure.

    The building is stunning. That alone is worth a visit. The repurposed school is like a labrinth in the basement. I did not mind. It made the exhibits more exicting. As for the art collection, different people have different tastes. Take this with a grain of salt. I thought ithe Material Witness exhibit was ok. I think modern art should either be cool to look at or meaningful to the viewer. There were few pieces that stood out as esthetically, cool. Most of the art was made of found objects that had been assembled and lightly altered. There were a few constructions that were odd and interesting, like a wheel in the middle of one room, or some organ meat looking pillows in another. All in all, they specialize in strange objects. I am sure they have a lot of meaning to the artsists, but to the viewer, at least for me, they did not mean anything. One wall dispalyed a stained matress. If I snuck in and replaced it with th eone that has been in my alley was for two weeks, 99% of the viewers would be none the wiser for it. The doors with baseball bats, was the exception and the most striking display in the museum.

    Temima N.

    I didn't take too many photos but I really enjoyed this museum! If you like unique contemporary art that makes you think I would suggest this museum! It also had some cool weird art to which I enjoyed. It was in an older building but each floor had about 3-4 rooms with different art showcased. It's smaller than other museums in dc but I thought it was much less overwhelming and I enjoyed the complexity of the art.

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    1 year ago

    Great museum. Contemporary. Different. Thought provoking. Go alone. Go with a friend. JUST GO!

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    Intimate, spectacular spot to see thought provoking works. Great for families. Highly recommend!

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    National Gallery of Art - Mother and child

    National Gallery of Art

    4.6(889 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    Step into the National Gallery of Art, and suddenly you're strolling through a palace of culture…read moreright on the National Mall. The gallery opened in 1941 thanks to financier and art lover Andrew W. Mellon, who believed the American people deserved a museum every bit as grand as those in Europe. Built in gleaming marble by architect John Russell Pope, the place feels less like a museum and more like walking through a royal treasury of creativity. One room might greet you with the grace of Raphael, while another lets you stare straight into the swirling brilliance of Vincent van Gogh. And here's the delicious little detail: this world-class collection began with just over a hundred paintings and a few dozen sculptures from Mellon's personal stash ehis gift to the nation. Today the gallery holds well over 150,000 works, spanning centuries of human imagination. It's the kind of place where you wander in for a quick look and suddenly find yourself rubbing elbows with masterpieces that usually live in textbooks. No velvet ropes, no fancy invitation required just walk in and enjoy the riches. Now that's what I call art with a little champagne sparkle.

    Came here after seeing it on tiktok. The East gallery didn't have as much, but I was also able to…read morecheck out the outdoor sculpture garden. I came specifically to see a few pieces (Degas' Little Dancer), but the layout was a little confusing. The best part was the gelato selection in the Cascade Cafe. I bought a small pumpkin gelato for about $7 and the flavor was perfect. The security guards are a little strict with the fact that you cannot exit the museum until you've finished all your food at the cafe first. 2026 #20

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    National Gallery of Art - Ices-cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn't illegal.
          --Voltaire

    Ices-cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn't illegal. --Voltaire

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    -Ken Kesey

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    Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden - Fernand Leger

    Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden

    4.3(547 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $

    The Hirshhorn offers a distinct contrast to the National Gallery of Art, and its rotating exhibits…read morehelp keep each visit feeling fresh. Some of the outdoor sculptures were visible, though a few pieces were either being relocated or blocked off. There were not many, so it made for a quick walk around the circular exterior. Upon entering, we went through security, which led into the main lobby where there is also a café. The coffee was both expensive and underwhelming, so I would recommend grabbing a drink elsewhere. The museum has three floors, and I found it easiest to start at the top and work your way down. *Laurie Anderson Four Talks: one of my favorite exhibits. The installation was fully immersive, covering the entire room. The writing and drawings across all four walls really brought the concept together. *Adam Pendleton Love Queen: a visually striking exhibit that transitions into a black and white video. While the artwork itself did not resonate with me as much, the video left both me and other visitors in a quiet, reflective state. *Revolutions Art from the Hirshhorn Collection: more traditional in style and subject matter. I did wish there was more context provided for some of the pieces, especially the sculptures, as a few lacked historical explanation. *Basquiat x Banksy: a more modern collection that reflects themes of racial and class divide. The bold colors and strong perspectives made this one of the more engaging sections. *Big Things For Big Rooms: a bit too literal for my taste, as it largely consisted of oversized objects without much added depth. *Mark Bradford Pickett's Charge: an older but well maintained exhibit. The circular layout of the museum complemented the work nicely. The textures and use of color were particularly compelling. The gift shop offered a wide range of items, including pieces inspired by past exhibitions and collaborations. I especially liked the Basquiat and Banksy merchandise, though it was nice to see representation from other collections as well. Overall, this is an easy museum to explore in one visit. I wish I could have seen the updated sculpture garden, but the rotating exhibits alone make it worth coming back.

    This is a pretty cool museum, but they REALLY overhyped the Basquiat x Banksy collaboration. There…read morewas one piece of Banksy art which was a take on a Basquiat piece. The Basquiat collection was also pretty sparse. Mr. Smithsonian should be ashamed. I hope he's looking up and reading this. The museum's upper floors are 2 concentric circles so I'd recommend doing 2 loops around to avoid missing anything. There were displays with videos, lights, paint, and other media. I enjoyed exploring. The sculpture garden was closed when I was there, so I was unable to see anything there. I also don't know what was on the ground floor besides the entrance and the cafe. Seemed like something else should have been there. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It's worth a visit for sure and I enjoyed my time. But I was drawn in by the false hype.

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    Museum of the Bible - Located on the same block as the Federal Center SW metro stop, the museum is conveniently located and just a few blocks from the Mall!

    Museum of the Bible

    4.5(471 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Came over the holidays and it was well worth it. Trust me you're going to need more than 1 day to…read moretruly explore all of the amazing history that's here. My favorite exhibit was on the Impact the Bible has on the world. It was so cool to see how religion is woven into so many aspects of our society! Overall great experience! Oh and they had Amazing Free hot chocolate that was offered to guests upon arrival!

    Never has 4 hours in a museum gone by so quickly! And we didn't even get to go through an entire…read morefloor. We went for the Dead Sea scrolls exhibit which was amazing, I highly recommend. Apparently there will be a rotation of which scrolls are being shown (3 rotations total) to minimize the amount of light exposure each scroll gets. We also got to check out the interactive All Creation Sings exhibit which was unique and really cool. There were only 5 people in there so we really got to enjoy and see everything. We also got to see the Bethlehem village play because of the advent season. Great for kids to engage and learn about Jesus' birth story! There's also a children's area on the ground floor with a play area, games, and even a small play area for toddlers. My husband's and I's favorite was the Old Testament exhibit? Not sure if it's an exhibit but it was an interactive screen/walk through. It was amazing!! God is so good!! Highly recommend this museum to all!

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    Rubell Museum - artmuseums - Updated May 2026

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