Museum from Home | Discover Art by Asian Americans
Explore SAAM's rich collection of work by artists of Asian descent, including Yayoi Kusama, Maya Lin, Isamu Noguchi, and Chiura Obata; take a deep dive into the art and archives of visionary Nam June Paik and visit our online galleries of current and past exhibitions. On our blog, colleagues at the Asian Pacific American Center talk about Obata’s experiences as a Japanese American in the incarceration camps during World War II and what history can reveal about anti-Asian sentiments today.
Explore Highlights from Our Collection
SAAM's collection features the voices and global perspective of Asian American artists.
Nam June Paik: Art & Process Take an in-depth look at Paik’s creative genius and artistic legacy with five prominent scholars and artists
Explore the Nam June Paik Archive
SAAM is home to the Nam June Paik Archive, where letters, studio effects, recordings, and videos are studied to provide insight into the artist’s life and career.
Read More About Paik's Work and Legacy on the Blog
The internationally touring exhibition Chiura Obata: American Modern features 150 paintings and personal effects by one of the most significant California-based artists and Japanese American cultural leaders of the twentieth century.
Tiffany Chung’s multimedia work probes the legacies of the Vietnam War and its aftermath through maps, videos, and paintings that highlight the voices and stories of former Vietnamese refugees.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is able to create and share these digital experiences thanks to funding from generous supporters like you. Thank you for ensuring that American art is available to all!
Yayoi Kusama, Fire, ca. 1954, watercolor, pastel, ink, tempera on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Benton and The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 2019.32.3
Chiura Obata, Dust Storm, Topaz, 1943, watercolor on paper, 14 1/4 x 19 1/4 inches, Private Collection.
Nam June Paik, Nam June Paik Archive, Research Material: Correspondence, ephemera and performance documentation; writings on art, history and technology; video and audio tapes; production notes for video and television projects; sketches, notebooks, models and plans for video installations; , Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Nam June Paik Estate, 2009.NJP
