WASHINGTON D.C. — The nation’s capital is home to about 70 art museums. However, it isn’t always necessary to travel as far as the National Mall or Dupont Circle. The American University (AU) art museum features the work of artists from around the world.
The AU art museum receives about five applications each day from artists eager to have their work displayed. The director and curator, John Rasmussen, says AU graduate students can also have their work displayed once a year.
Rasmussen describes the museum as paralleling “the strengths of the university.” The artwork, which has a strong international focus, reflects AU’s diverse community and Rasmussen adds that the museum shows political and social work because it “can’t be found elsewhere in D.C.”
The museum is three floors of art work and more can also be found outside the museum walls in overlooked nooks and crannies, including in stairwells, elevators and on windows, as a part of the exhibit by Danielle O’Steen.
Rasmussen said that the AU art museum is similar to the Corcoran art museum just a little bit more “nimble.” Some of the exhibits are traveling shows, coming from places like the Grey art gallery at New York University, and Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento.
The museum has a diverse array of artwork both inside and outside in the sculpture garden, too. With its emphasis on international art and diversity, the museum adds to culture of D.C. art museums.
The American University Art Museum in the Katzen Arts Center is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.