Each spring to commemorate the anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, which opened March 17, 1941, the Ames-Haskell Azalea Collection brightens the Rotunda. Gifted to the Gallery in 1991 to mark its 50th year, this colorful collection of living art features 250 azaleas, 50-year-old plants, and specimens originally from Japan. This beautiful collection of living art includes a wide variety of specimens that bloom colorfully for several weeks.

Cellist Benjamin Gates both composes music of his own and arranges the work of others. Gates has performed at the White House, the Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, and the Swedish Embassy. He has also served as a guest artist and teacher at the KIPP DC School and at various schools throughout Maryland. Gates has been playing the cello since he was four years old. He honed his craft with the DC Youth Orchestra, where he became the principal cellist. A graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, he continued on to Hampton University in Virginia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music. Gates is an active performer throughout the mid-Atlantic, playing wherever an audience can be found, from the metro to the concert hall.

Follow the journey of Marc Chagall’s masterful mosaic, Orphée , from its original setting in a private Georgetown garden through extensive conservation at the National Gallery of Art to its installation in a secluded spot in the Gallery’s Sculpture Garden. Chagall designed the 10-by-17-foot mosaic as a wedding gift to John and Evelyn Nef, Washington art collectors and philanthropists, proclaiming: “Nothing for the house. The house is perfect as it is. But I will do something for the garden: a mosaic.” Fully realized by mosaic artist Lino Melano, Orphée presided over the Nefs’ garden for over 40 years, until it was bequeathed to the Gallery in 2009. For three years, a team of Gallery staff and contractors collaborated to safely remove the mosaic from its original garden setting, to stabilize each of the 10 panels and prepare them for reinstallation, and to attach them to a new wall in the Sculpture Garden, recreating the contemplative setting of the Nefs’ garden. This once hidden jewel now delights visitors to the Sculpture Garden.

Ray Barker, archivist of special collections, DC Public Library, with Andrew White, jazz/R&B multi-instrumentalist, musicologist, and publisher Washington, DC, is known for its museums, which collectively bring millions of visitors to the city from around the world. Yet Washington also has a rich history of local art spaces that have showcased art made here in the city; several of them also staged concerts to support Washington’s many jazz and punk bands. Unfortunately, most of these local institutions no longer exist, but the DC Public Library is archiving as much as it can of this precious history. On June 30, 2019, at the National Gallery of Art, Ray Barker, archivist of special collections at the DC Public Library, gave a lecture introducing three key examples: d.c. space, the Maya Gallery, and the Museum of Temporary Art. Local music legend Andrew White, who had been featured at d.c. space, joined Barker with a short performance.

National Gallery conservators, art handlers, and masons coordinate the intricate deinstallation of Alexander Calder’s mobile in the East Building Atrium. National Gallery conservators, art handlers, and masons coordinate the intricate deinstallation of Alexander Calder’s mobile in the East Building Atrium.

Joseph Monroe Webb, international award-winning dancer, choreographer, actor, educator, and poet; founder and director, American Embassy of Dance. On January 29, 2017, at the National Gallery of Art, Joseph Webb presents a lecture on communication through dance movement and sound, and an exploration of dance as a means of communication and a portal to freedom. Webb choreographed a performance in honor of the exhibition Stuart Davis: In Full Swing , on view from November 20, 2017, through March 5, 2017. With improvisation by Joseph Webb, Jason Holley, and Charlee Mize. Noble Jolley, Allen Jones, and Elliot Seppa provided the live musical accompaniment. This presentation was supported in loving memory of Shirley Casstevens.

Written and directed by Mary Hall Surface, the play Forward, 54th! was commissioned by the National Gallery of Art in 2013 in honor of the exhibition Tell It with Pride: The 54th Massachusetts Regiment and Augustus Saint-Gaudens' Shaw Memorial . The Gallery staged 24 performances between September 2013 and March 2014. Through interweaving monologues and live Civil War-era music, this dramatic interpretation retells the rich stories of the people and events remembered in Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ Shaw Memorial.

HABITAT, a composition for percussion with video and computer transformations, is a concert-length technology venture by Steve Antosca, percussion performance and video content by Ross Karre, and audio technology by William Brent. Premiered November 10, 2013 in the National Gallery of Art East Building Atrium. The conceptual framework of HABITAT involves a percussionist operating comfortably within the domain of his instruments, emerging over the course of his performance into a larger, more profound environment through his roles as a performer and activator of the technology. This involves his movement to and performance within a “spiral galaxy” of unique percussion stations, distributed throughout the performance space. As the percussionist moves through the space on his transformational journey, a multiplicity of effects—visual, aural, and architectural—enters into the complex formula that comprises the performance of HABITAT. Used uniquely in the Gallery premiere as one of the percussion stations, Harry Bertoia’s Tonal Sculpture (1977) is a gift to the Gallery’s permanent collection from Bernard and Audrey Berman. HABITAT stems from the tradition of intermedia art, in which a variety of media are employed for the mutual benefit of underlying concepts. From the outset of the compositional process, HABITAT treats percussion instruments, monitors, and projection surfaces as installed sculptures and unifying elements of the project. The varying placement and instrumentation that define the percussionist’s journey allow the audience to adjust its auditory perspective through spatialization cues and timbral shifts, constantly reformulating their perception of the performance.

The experience of skating in the Sculpture Garden, surrounded by the grand architecture of national museums and monuments, is enhanced by views of splendid large-scale sculptures by modern and contemporary artists including Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, Roxy Paine, Tony Smith, and others from the Gallery’s renowned collection. The ice-skating season at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden runs from November through mid March , weather permitting. Located on the National Mall between 7th and 9th Streets along Constitution Avenue NW, the ice rink is a favorite Washington destination, attracting thousands of visitors to skate in the nation’s capital.

The Jazz in the Garden Series begins its 14th season in May. The free concert series features an array of jazz artists performing a wide variety of styles—including salsa, blusion, xylophone, and Afrofunk—every Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:30 at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Guests may purchase food and beverages from the Pavilion Café and its carts located around the Garden or bring their own picnics. Alcoholic beverages may not be brought to the premises from outside and are subject to confiscation. Security officers reserve the right to inspect all items brought into the Sculpture Garden. For the safety of visitors and works of art, access to the Sculpture Garden will be limited if the space becomes too crowded. Concerts may be cancelled due to excessive heat or inclement weather. To learn more about Jazz in the Garden concerts and performers, please call (202) 842-6941.

Over the course of seven hours, on June 5, 2008, Martin Puryear and 12 art handlers installed Ladder for Booker T. Washington at the National Gallery of Art in the West Building, Rotunda. This time-lapse movie demonstrates the process of hoisting the 36-foot-long ash and maple sculpture into the Rotunda in the West Building of the National Gallery of Art. Produced in conjunction with the exhibition Martin Puryear.

Over the course of three days, from February 14 to 16, 2007, Mel Bochner and his assistant Nicholas Knight installed Theory of Boundariesat the National Gallery of Art. The work, whose size is determined by the length of the wall on which it is installed, consists of four squares of equal size, each separated by a space equal to one-third of the width of a single square. Following the principles determined by the "language fraction" of each square (hence the work's title, Theory of Boundaries), dry pigment is applied directly to the wall, with each of the four squares demonstrating a different relationship of the color surface to its border and state of enclosure.

Andrew W. Mellon (1855–1937) was the original benefactor behind the National Gallery of Art, but neither the buildings nor the institution bears his name. In the late 1940s, Pittsburgh friends of Mr. Mellon proposed a memorial to honor his public service and philanthropy. The Andrew W. Mellon Memorial Fountain was dedicated in 1952. In 2015, the Gallery acquired jurisdiction over the property and immediately undertook a complete renovation to revive this beautiful memorial and public amenity. This video tells the story of that renovation.

Multiverse, (2008), a site-specific LED sculpture by Leo Villareal, is on view in the Concourse walkway connecting the East and West Buildings of the National Gallery of Art. The sculpture, which includes approximately 41,000 LED (light-emitting diode) nodes controlled by custom-designed software, is Villareal's largest and most ambitious work to date. Watch Gallery staff and volunteers install the LED nodes over the course of 65 days (the process was captured in 58,296 photographs). The sculpture was generously funded by Victoria and Roger Sant and Sharon P. and Jay Rockefeller.

This film highlights the East Building's architectural conception and construction, beginning with the challenge initially faced by architect I. M. Pei. Documentation of construction includes footage of the works of art commissioned for the building.

Where can you find videos on art of, by, and for the Nation? Get inspired by the stories behind your favorite artists, paintings, sculptures, and much more right here on the National Gallery‘s YouTube channel. Still haven’t subscribed to our YouTube channels? National Gallery of Art ►► https://www.youtube.com/NationalGalleryofArtUS National Gallery of Art Talks ►► https://www.youtube.com/NationalGalleryofArtTalks

A centennial screening of the 1912 film Robin Hood and rare presentation of the Maurice Tourneur film Alias Jimmy Valentine (1915) with live piano accompaniment are introduced by film historian Richard Koszarski, author of Fort Lee, the Film Town and Hollywood on the Hudson. Koszarski's presentation outlines the influence of French culture on early cinema production and investigates the history of the studios, the directors, and the stars established in Fort Lee, New Jersey, known as the "birthplace of the motion picture industry."

Autumn’s cooler temperatures give the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden a crisp edge. It’s a lovely time of year to have a hot chocolate and stroll through the garden, taking in the fall foliage.

The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden in summer is in full bloom.  It is a great time of year to stroll through the garden and see colorful perennials, flowering trees, different texture of foliage and butterflies.

Syncopated Ladies is a female tap dance band widely known for their viral videos and founded by Emmy-nominated choreographer Chloe Arnold. Chloe was discovered at a young age in Washington, DC, by Debbie Allen, and her choreography has been featured on hit television shows such as So You Think You Can Dance, Good Morning America, The Ellen Show, The Talk , and over 30 episodes of The Late Late Show with James Corden . With Chloe paving the way and carving out Syncopated Ladies' place in the industry, the group has garnered over 50 million views online, receiving praise from Beyoncé, Whoopi Goldberg, and many other celebrities and news outlets around the world. Some of their credits include Global Citizen Week, Essence Fest, Imagine Justice, Glamour Women of the Year Awards, The Women in the World Summit, the Democratic National Convention, and Beyoncé’s Ivy Park Launch at Top Shop London.

Multiverse (2008), a site-specific LED sculpture by Leo Villareal, is currently on view in the Concourse walkway connecting the East and West Buildings of the National Gallery of Art. The sculpture, which includes approximately 41,000 LED (light-emitting diode) nodes controlled by custom-designed software, is Villareal's largest and most ambitious work to date. Learn more about the artist's programming method as well his conceptual and technological inspiration in this studio interview. The sculpture was generously funded by Victoria P. and Roger Sant, and Sharon P. and Jay Rockefeller.

Multiverse (2008), a site-specific LED sculpture by Leo Villareal, is currently on view in the Concourse walkway connecting the East and West Buildings of the National Gallery of Art. The sculpture, which includes approximately 41,000 LED (light-emitting diode) nodes controlled by custom-designed software, is Villareal's largest and most ambitious work to date. Learn more about the artist's programming method as well his conceptual and technological inspiration in this studio interview. The sculpture was generously funded by Victoria P. and Roger Sant, and Sharon P. and Jay Rockefeller.

Multiverse (2008), a site-specific LED sculpture by Leo Villareal, is currently on view in the Concourse walkway connecting the East and West Buildings of the National Gallery of Art. The sculpture, which includes approximately 41,000 LED (light-emitting diode) nodes controlled by custom-designed software, is Villareal's largest and most ambitious work to date. Learn more about the artist's programming method as well his conceptual and technological inspiration in this studio interview. The sculpture was generously funded by Victoria P. and Roger Sant, and Sharon P. and Jay Rockefeller.

Multiverse (2008), a site-specific LED sculpture by Leo Villareal, is currently on view in the Concourse walkway connecting the East and West Buildings of the National Gallery of Art. The sculpture, which includes approximately 41,000 LED (light-emitting diode) nodes controlled by custom-designed software, is Villareal's largest and most ambitious work to date. Learn more about the artist's programming method as well his conceptual and technological inspiration in this studio interview. The sculpture was generously funded by Victoria P. and Roger Sant, and Sharon P. and Jay Rockefeller.

Multiverse, (2008), a site-specific LED sculpture by Leo Villareal, is on view in the Concourse walkway connecting the East and West Buildings of the National Gallery of Art. The sculpture, which includes approximately 41,000 LED (light-emitting diode) nodes controlled by custom-designed software, is Villareal's largest and most ambitious work to date. Watch Gallery staff and volunteers install the LED nodes over the course of 65 days (the process was captured in 58,296 photographs). The sculpture was generously funded by Victoria and Roger Sant and Sharon P. and Jay Rockefeller.

Carrie Mae Weems, artist. Made only a few years after Carrie Mae Weems received her MFA in 1984 from the University of California, San Diego, Kitchen Table Series consists of 20 staged photographs depicting Weems and others seated at a table. Endowed with a keen sense of how to transform her body into an expressive tool, Weems used the photographs to tell the story of a woman’s life as seen through the intimate space of the kitchen—the traditional sphere of women and a site of sanctuary, creation, shared experiences, and emotional honesty. In this performance held on February 6, 2018, in conjunction with the installation of Kitchen Table Series in the East Building of the National Gallery of Art, Weems presents this seminal body of work in the context of her career, including images from Grace Notes: Reflections for Now performed recently at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This program is made possible by the James D. and Kathryn K. Steele Fund for Photography .

Join María Magdalena Campos-Pons and her gathering of women artists as they celebrate the roles women have played in the progress of the United States and perform a “cleansing gesture” for future generations. This is the first-ever live performance of When We Gather, and the first performance artwork commissioned by the National Gallery of Art. When We Gather was performed in conjunction with the National Gallery of Art’s Afro-Atlantic Histories exhibition, on view until July 17, 2022.