Arthur M Sackler Gallery

History

The Smithsonian Institution has two museums of Asian art: the Freer Gallery of Art, which opened to the public in 1923, and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, which welcomed its first visitors in 1987. Together known as the Freer|Sackler, the museums are physically connected by an underground passageway and ideologically linked through the study, exhibition, and sheer love of Asian art. Why is there American art in the Smithsonian's museums of Asian art? After collecting works by American artists, museum founder Charles Lang Freer was introduced to Asian art by James McNeill Whistler. That's why the Freer Gallery features important American art from the late 19th century, including the greatest collection of Whistler's work (and the Peacock Room!), alongside its Asian masterpieces. Please note: The Freer|Sackler will be closed to the public from July 2017 until October 14th, 2017. Please see our website for more information around the reopening.

Specialties

As Smithsonian museums, the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery hold in trust the nation's extraordinary collections of Asian art and of American art of the late 19th-century aesthetic movement. Our mission is to encourage enjoyment and understanding of the arts of Asia and the cultures that produced them. We use works of art to inspire study and provoke thought.