The underground walkway connecting the two buildings features Leo Villareal’s light sculpture 'Multiverse,' consisting of 41,000 LED nodes.
The West Building is constructed of pink Tennessee marble, selected specifically for its durable and light-reflecting qualities.
The Gallery's collection was originally anchored by a gift from Andrew W. Mellon, who also funded the construction of the West Building.
The East Building's design was inspired by the shape of a trapezoid, fitting the irregular site between Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues.
The museum holds a permanent collection of over 150,000 prints, drawings, photographs, and media arts.
The National Gallery of Art is the only art museum in the United States formed by a joint public-private initiative. It occupies two distinct buildings: the neoclassical West Building and the modern, angular East Building, connected by an underground concourse. The collection encompasses European paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts from the Middle Ages to the present, alongside a comprehensive collection of American art. It houses the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in the Americas, 'Ginevra de' Benci.' The East Building, designed by I.M. Pei, focuses on modern and contemporary works, including rotating exhibitions. The Sculpture Garden, located adjacent to the main buildings, features large-scale outdoor installations. The gallery is part of the Smithsonian-adjacent museum complex on the National Mall. It functions as a national repository for visual arts and operates a significant research center.
The center atrium of the East Building, capturing the dramatic light and geometric angles of the skylights.
Prioritize one building per visit, as the total square footage is vast and can lead to sensory fatigue.
Use the underground tunnel to move between buildings to avoid exiting and re-entering security lines.
Check the official website for daily lecture and tour schedules before arriving.
Trying to see both the East and West buildings in a single two-hour window; attempting to drive and find street parking nearby.
Open daily except for December 25th and January 1st.
No flash photography in restricted galleries; food and drink are prohibited in exhibition spaces; backpacks must be worn on the front or checked.
