Renwick Gallery

The Renwick Gallery is the Smithsonian’s museum for contemporary craft and decorative arts, housed in a mid-19th-century building near the White House in Washington, D.C. It is a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum focused on craft, design and installation art.

Rotating temporary exhibitions occupy the building’s compact, historically detailed rooms and often include large-scale installation pieces created for the Renwick. The museum highlights contemporary makers and craft media across ceramics, fiber, wood, glass and mixed materials.

The building itself is a historic structure and contributes to the visitor experience; exhibitions are curated to take advantage of the intimate gallery volumes. Educational programs and artist talks frequently accompany major shows.

Designed by architect James Renwick Jr. in the mid-19th century, the building has served various institutional purposes and became part of the Smithsonian’s museum holdings to present decorative arts and craft. Recent conservation and exhibition programmes have emphasized contemporary installation work.

Located on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, two blocks from the White House and Lafayette Square, the Renwick is in central Washington, D.C., and is easily included on downtown walking routes.

• Admission and focus: Free admission as part of the Smithsonian; exhibitions concentrate on contemporary craft, decorative arts and large-scale temporary installations.
• Central location: The gallery sits two blocks from the White House and Lafayette Square, making it easy to combine with central Washington walking routes.

What to See #

• Renwick building: The historic Renwick building is a 19th-century mansion designed by James Renwick Jr., adapted to gallery use and featuring compact rooms for changing exhibitions.
• Exhibition galleries: Galleries host rotating contemporary craft and decorative arts exhibitions, often including large-scale installation work designed for the building's rooms.
• Site character: The intimate scale of the galleries and their proximity to the White House area make the building suited to immersive installations and craft-focused shows.