Smithsonian National Museum of African Art
T
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
of African Art, located on the National Mall, specializes in African art and culture. It was established as a private museum in 1964, and officially became a part of the Smithsonian Institution in 1979. The collection of the NMAfA embraces the diverse artistic expressions found throughout Africa, from ancient to contemporary times. Collection objects
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range from ceramics, textiles, furniture and tools to masks, figures and musical instruments. The arts of painting, printmaking, sculpture and other media are well represented by living artists whose works highlight individual creativity, address global and local art trends and innovatively transform artistic traditions into modern idioms.
SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART africa.si.edu 950 Independence Ave., SW Washington, DC 202.633.4600
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT 1. FACE MASK, CHOKWE PEOPLES, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, ANGOLA, EARLY 20TH CENTURY, WOOD, PLANT FIBER, PIGMENT, COPPER ALLOY, 15-3/8 x 8-3/8 x 9-1/4”, MUSEUM PURCHASE, PHOTO: FRANKO KHOURY, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 2. BOY AND THE CANDLE, GERARD SEKOTO (1913-1993), BORN SOUTH AFRICA, 1943, OIL ON CANVAS, 18-3/16 x 13-1/4”, MUSEUM PURCHASE, PHOTO: FRANKO KHOURY, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 3. BRACELET, YORUBA PEOPLES, NIGERIA, 16TH CENTURY, IVORY, 5-11/16 x 4-1/8 x 4 1/8”, GIFT OF WALT DISNEY WORLD CO., A SUBSIDIARY OF THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY, PHOTO: FRANKO KHOURY, NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION IMAGES COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART