As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary amid ongoing debates over civil liberties and the rights of marginalized communities, Washington, DC’s museums and galleries are unveiling exhibitions that question the essence of being American. The National Gallery of Art’s Dear America showcases 115 pieces, while other exhibitions highlight individual artists like Mary Cassatt and Nick Cave, delving into ‘Americanism’ through education, expression, and aesthetics. The National Museum of Women in the Arts offers Making Their Mark, challenging the notion of a singular, monolithic American identity by critiquing it as a social, racial, and gendered construct. This spring, art in the capital invites us to examine ourselves as cultural creations, complicating our understanding of national identity.
Diana Al-Hadid: unbecoming
Maria and Alberto de la Cruz Gallery, 3535 Prospect Street NW, Washington, DC
Through April 12
Diana Al-Hadid’s timely exhibition embraces the term ‘unbecoming,’ a label many women encounter. Syrian-born and raised in the US, Al-Hadid employs her art history and Greek mythology background to explore femininity’s constructs and boundaries. Her lithography ‘Hindsight’ (2020) reimagines Hans Memling’s ‘Allegory of Chastity’ (1475), deconstructing both racist beauty standards and purity culture, dismantling gender expectations.
The Magical World of Joan Danziger
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Through May 17
Joan Danziger, active in the DC art scene since 1968, presents her largest exhibition yet, showcasing surrealist sculptures. Initially an abstract painter, Danziger’s arrival in DC inspired her to create imaginary worlds with glass, wire, and clay, offering visitors a dreamscape filled with vibrant figures and creatures.
The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today
National Portrait Gallery, 8th Street NW and G Street NW, Washington, DC
Through August 30
The triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition spotlights 35 artists from 12 states. Second prize winner Jared Soares emphasizes DC’s artistic richness with a photograph of a Marylander falsely identified by facial recognition software, examining American perceptions and biases influenced by surveillance technologies.
Mary Cassatt: An American in Paris
National Gallery of Art, Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Through August 30
This exhibition of 40 Mary Cassatt works explores her expansive perspective and innovation beyond her famous mother-child scenes. An American in Paris highlights her painting and printmaking skills, drawing from Japanese prints seen in Paris, offering intimate glimpses into women’s private spaces and personal care rituals.
