Seattle Art Museum

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Learn more about everything on view at visitsam.org/exhibitions.

“If you think about the concept of a game, organizing it, it’s kind of like a garden. A garden is a way of organizing na...
01/25/2025

“If you think about the concept of a game, organizing it, it’s kind of like a garden. A garden is a way of organizing nature; a game is a way of organizing play.” – Ginny Ruffner

We are saddened by the passing and grateful for the life of artist Ginny Ruffner, who has died at the age of 72. She was an innovative glass artist with an unstoppable creative drive who made Seattle her home. She created work in many media, including her celebrated glass sculptures and beloved large-scale public art. SAM is proud to have exhibited her work and to have it in its collection. Most of the works shown here are a few of her glass sculptures in the collection; you may also be familiar with "Mary's Invitation - A Place to Regard Beauty" (2014), the eye-catching art-you-can-sit-on at the Olympic Sculpture Park.

Thank you, Ginny, for creating works that took play, beauty, craft, and creative power seriously and then giving us a place to sit and think about it.

[🎨 “The Invention of the Games,” 1991, Ginny Ruffner, 2005.264, © Ginny Ruffner, Photo: Paul Macapia. “Mary's Invitation - A Place to Regard Beauty,” 2014, Ginny Ruffner, 2014.22, © Ginny Ruffner, Photo: Nathaniel Wilson. “The Opulent Brain Series - Language,” 1996, Ginny Ruffner, 2005.265, © Ginny Ruffner, Photo: Elizabeth Mann. “What if Flowers Could Spin Webs?,” 1993, Ginny Ruffner, 2005.267, © Ginny Ruffner, Photo: Elizabeth Mann. “Exotic Fragment Fleeing,” 1991, Ginny Ruffner, 91.256, © Ginny Ruffner.]

01/22/2025

🎶 Joyce J. Scott has left the building. We hope you didn’t miss your chance to experience the art, wit, and wisdom of the “Queen of Baltimore”! We wanted to leave you with one last message from the artist. Enjoy.

And come on back to SAM and see all the art still on view even as the temporary galleries close for a short time. “Following Space: Thaddeus Mosley & Alexander Calder,” “Deities & Demons: Supernatural in Japanese Art,” and “Impressionisms: The Global Nineteenth Century” are just a few of the exhibitions on view from SAM’s collection. Head to visitsam.org to learn more and get tickets!

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[📹 ]

01/16/2025

🎟️ GET YER TICKETS HERE!

The first tickets are now officially on sale for “Ai, Rebel, The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei,” SAM’s major retrospective for the iconic artistic disruptor that opens to the public on March 12. Head to visitsam.org/weiwei now to claim your spot.

By the way: The best way to experience “Ai, Rebel” is as a SAM member. Join now to get additional opportunities to experience the exhibition, including early access to reserve tickets, member-only days, and member-exclusive events. Head to visitsam.org/join.

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[📸Courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio, photo: Gao Yuan]

01/16/2025

👀TOMORROW IS THE DAY!

Tickets for “Ai, Rebel, The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei,” go on sale Thursday, January 16 at 10 am. Head to visitsam.org/weiwei tomorrow morning and claim your spot to be one of the first to experience this major art moment of 2025.

By the way: The best way to experience “Ai, Rebel” is as a SAM member. Join now to get additional opportunities to experience the exhibition, including early access to reserve tickets, member-only days, and member-exclusive events. Head to visitsam.org/join.

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[📸Courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio, photo: Gao Yuan]

☺️Sunday vibes…Just think, you could be at the Seattle Asian Art Museum right now, wandering through exquisite examples ...
01/12/2025

☺️Sunday vibes…Just think, you could be at the Seattle Asian Art Museum right now, wandering through exquisite examples of Korean art in the intimate galleries.

On view right now is “Meot: Korean Art from the Frank Bayley Collection,” which brings together over 60 works from a recent major gift to the museum—ceramics like Buncheong ware, whiteware, and blue-and-white, as well as calligraphy, paintings, and more. It includes historical works as well as those by well-known contemporary Korean artists including Son Manjin, Lee Inchin, Young Sook Park, Yoon Kwang-cho, and more.

The museum is open in lush Volunteer Park Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. More info and tickets at visitsam.org/meot.

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[📸 Chloe Collyer]

01/12/2025

🌍 “The world is a scrillion years old. Maybe we get to 80? This in many ways is paradise if we experience it. So just live.”

Artist Joyce J. Scott is back dropping gems from The Seat of Knowledge. Over 40 years of her art is now on view at SAM, and it reflects all the complexities of Scott’s ideas of being human.

“Joyce J. Scott: Walk a Mile in My Dreams” at the Seattle Art Museum closes January 19! Learn more and get tickets at visitsam.org/scott.

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01/09/2025

🤑It’s almost time to BUY WEIWEI!

Tickets for 2025’s biggest art experience, “Ai, Rebel, The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei,” go on sale Thursday, January 16. Sign up at visitsam.org/rebeltix to get a reminder when tickets officially drop!

By the way: The best way to experience “Ai, Rebel” is as a SAM member. They get additional opportunities to experience the exhibition, including early access to reserve tickets, member-only days, and member-exclusive events. Join now to be able to reserve your timed tickets when they become available on Tuesday, January 14 at visitsam.org/join.

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[📸Courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio, photo: Gao Yuan]

“The students’ excitement at being in a new place and their imaginative responses to the artwork on view always gives me...
01/06/2025

“The students’ excitement at being in a new place and their imaginative responses to the artwork on view always gives me energy, in spite of all the walking and vocal projection needed to lead tours.”

Now on SAM Stories, the museum’s blog: Yaoyao Liu, SAM’s Manager of School Tours, reflects on the importance of in-person museum tours for students. Liu and her team have been rebuilding SAM’s tours after the pandemic years of virtual tours. Here, she shares feedback from educators, stats from internal evaluations, and insights into why arts education is a critical part of SAM’s mission to connect art to life.

Read the full post: https://bit.ly/41Z9gv3

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[🧑‍💻 Naomi Chan]

01/05/2025

🎭 “…That comedian, that trickster, is the one who tells you what others would lose their head for.” – Joyce J. Scott on humor.

Catch them while you can! Artist Joyce J. Scott is dropping gems from The Seat of Knowledge, her large-scale installation created for her 50-year retrospective, “Walk a Mile in My Dreams.” In this video, she talks about the profound importance of humor to her life and work. Also: she’s just hilarious. She couldn’t help it if she tried.

The exhibition closes January 19, 2025! Learn more and get tickets at visitsam.org/scott.
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🗣️ Dive into the rebellious side of art and explore artists who challenge traditional conventions at Conversations with ...
01/03/2025

🗣️ Dive into the rebellious side of art and explore artists who challenge traditional conventions at Conversations with Curators, our members-only lecture series! Each talk highlights the bold, unconventional, and thought-provoking ways art can rebel against norms and reflect the world around us.

The first talk is coming up on January 15 with Pamela McClusky, Oliver E. and Pamela F. Cobb Curator of African and Oceanic Art. She'll be in conversation with artist John Grade about "Middle Fork," the beloved sculpture in the Brotman Forum, SAM's main entrance lobby. After eight years on view, the artist's monumental work will be deinstalled after February 2.

Not a SAM member? Read more on this member-only series and to join to get access to exclusive programming like this: visitsam.org/conversations
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[📸, ]

Start off the new year with an unforgettable experience. From tiny beads to monumental sculptures, the stunning art of J...
01/02/2025

Start off the new year with an unforgettable experience. From tiny beads to monumental sculptures, the stunning art of Joyce J. Scott, Bethany Collins, and Thaddeus Mosley is here to inspire and challenge you.

✨Joyce J. Scott: Walk a Mile in My Dreams | Through Jan 19

✨Bethany Collins: At Sea | Now on view

✨Following Space: Thaddeus Mosley & Alexander Calder | Now on view

Tickets and info at visitsam.org

Summer Family Programs Intern ➡️ Fulltime Public Engagement Associate: We love to see it!Now on SAM Stories, the museum’...
01/02/2025

Summer Family Programs Intern ➡️ Fulltime Public Engagement Associate: We love to see it!

Now on SAM Stories, the museum’s blog, Lucy Adams reflects on her experience helping create and run this past summer’s edition of SAM Camp. The work saw her coordinating with counselors and teaching artists to develop inclusive and inspiring programs for the campers. As Lucy says, “Providing a safe space for kids to express themselves is what I love to do, and seeing young campers come into their own during their week at camp was so fulfilling!”

Read Lucy’s reflection essay: https://bit.ly/4a397sd

But wait, there’s more! You can also experience creative programs created by Lucy at Free First Thursday evenings, a new offering available at the Seattle Art Museum from 5 to 8 pm on the first Thursday of every month. Check out details for January’s edition at visitsam.org.

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[📸 Courtesy Lucy Adams; SAM Camp photos: Chloe Collyer]

The Seattle Art Museum and the Seattle Asian Art Museum are open regular hours today, 10 am to 5 pm. Start your year wit...
01/01/2025

The Seattle Art Museum and the Seattle Asian Art Museum are open regular hours today, 10 am to 5 pm. Start your year with art!

01/01/2025

And now, a timeline cleanse as we say goodbye to 2024 and welcome 2025…

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[🎨 Greenland Gothic, 1935-37, Rockwell Kent, oil on canvas mounted on board, Painting: 34 x 44 1/2 in., Frame: 43 x 53 in., Gift of the Ann and Thomas Barwick Family Collection in honor of Derrick Cartwright, Director, Seattle Art Museum, 2009-2011, 2022.22.2.]

Thank you for being such an important part of our community in 2024! As we bid the year farewell and welcome a new one, ...
12/31/2024

Thank you for being such an important part of our community in 2024! As we bid the year farewell and welcome a new one, we’re taking a moment to look back at some of the highlights that made this past year so memorable. From school tours and welcoming new members to the one-of-a-kind finds in our lost and found (!), 2024 was filled with moments to remember.

Swipe through to see some stats from the year, and drop a comment with your favorite highlight!

Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. A peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia, and US President from 1977 to 1981, he th...
12/31/2024

Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. A peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia, and US President from 1977 to 1981, he then took up “the role of citizen” and worked on issues around the globe that mattered to him, especially human rights, public health, and housing.

SAM’s collection includes a 5-part series of lithographs and prints related to the former president called “Inaugural Impressions." The inaugural committee commissioned five artists—Jacob Lawrence, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Andy Warhol and Jamie Wyeth—to create works about the January 20, 1977 inauguration for a limited-edition boxed portfolio of signed prints. The proceeds were used to keep Washington, DC museums open later, along with other free cultural events.

Here, we’re sharing images of three of the five works: “The Swearing In” by Jacob Lawrence focuses away from the president, elected officials, and dignitaries on the west front of the US Capitol and instead features the spectators watching on the National Mall. They huddle against the winter weather in jackets, scarves, and hats, some clutching small American flags, canes, or both. A few clamber into trees, straining for a better view of the ceremony.

Robert Rauschenberg’s “Untitled” employs his collage work; images of the Lincoln Memorial contrast with that of the young couple Jimmy and Rosalynn as well as a handwritten quote: “Change is not a contest. Change is survival's praise.”

Carter himself took a stab at interpreting Lichtenstein’s print, saying, “...to me it shows the symbolism of the oath—the fact that I am tied to the people. And I believe that this is a very good expression of the vitality of Inauguration Day.”

[🎨 “The Swearing In (From the Inaugural Series in Honor of President Jimmy Carter),” 1977, Jacob Lawrence, 84.10.3, © Jacob Lawrence. “Untitled (From the Inaugural Series in Honor of President Jimmy Carter),” 1977, Robert Rauschenberg, 84.10.2, © Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. “Untitled (From the Inaugural Series in Honor of President Jimmy Carter),” 1977, Roy Lichtenstein, 84.10.4, © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein. All: Seattle Art Museum, Gift of Longacres Race Course, Photo: Elizabeth Mann.]

💗 Movement + mindfulness + art = SAM Body + MindRestore and reconnect this winter with SAM Body + Mind at the Olympic Sc...
12/30/2024

💗 Movement + mindfulness + art = SAM Body + Mind

Restore and reconnect this winter with SAM Body + Mind at the Olympic Sculpture Park! On select Saturdays between January and March, the PACCAR Pavilion comes to life with free, all ages programming. Daytime programs feature movement classes, art activities, and sound baths; nighttime events feature storytelling, poetry, and art installations.

Check out the incredible list of partners and performers + mark your calendars with the full list of dates!

A Resting Place | Biom | Dance Church | E.J. Koh | Inside: a space made to redefine self-care | Marco De Carvalho | Mia Imani | The Moth | Northwest Creative & Expressive Arts Institute | Shelby Natasha | West Seattle Book Club

🌞 SAM Body + Mind Activity Day | Sat Jan 11 | 9 am–2 pm

🌚 The Moth at SAM Body + Mind | Sat Jan 25 2025 | 5:30–8 pm

🌞 SAM Body + Mind Activity Day | Sat Feb 8 | 9 am–2 pm

🌚 SAM Body + Mind Poetry Evening | Sat Feb 22 2025 | 5:30–8 pm

🌞 SAM Body + Mind Activity Day | Sat Mar 15 | 9 am–2 pm

🌚 SAM Body + Mind Poetry Evening | Sat Mar 22 2025 | 5:30–8 pm

We'll see you bright and early on Saturday, January 11 for the kickoff of SAM Body + Mind! Space is limited and activities are first come, first served.

Explore full program details: visitsam.org/bodyandmind

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🎶 Joyce J. Scott has left the building. We hope you didn’t miss your chance to experience the art, wit, and wisdom of the “Queen of Baltimore”! We wanted to leave you with one last message from the artist. Enjoy. And come on back to SAM and see all the art still on view even as the temporary galleries close for a short time. “Following Space: Thaddeus Mosley & Alexander Calder,” “Deities & Demons: Supernatural in Japanese Art,” and “Impressionisms: The Global Nineteenth Century” are just a few of the exhibitions on view from SAM’s collection. Head to visitsam.org to learn more and get tickets! – @joycejscott #JoyceJScott #JoyceScott #WalkAMileInMyDreams #SeattleArtMuseum [📹 @nataliwiseman]

🎟️ GET YER TICKETS HERE! The first tickets are now officially on sale for “Ai, Rebel, The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei,” SAM’s major retrospective for the iconic artistic disruptor that opens to the public on March 12. Head to visitsam.org/weiwei now to claim your spot. By the way: The best way to experience “Ai, Rebel” is as a SAM member. Join now to get additional opportunities to experience the exhibition, including early access to reserve tickets, member-only days, and member-exclusive events. Head to visitsam.org/join. – [📸Courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio, photo: Gao Yuan]

👀TOMORROW IS THE DAY! Tickets for “Ai, Rebel, The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei,” go on sale Thursday, January 16 at 10 am. Head to visitsam.org/weiwei tomorrow morning and claim your spot to be one of the first to experience this major art moment of 2025. By the way: The best way to experience “Ai, Rebel” is as a SAM member. Join now to get additional opportunities to experience the exhibition, including early access to reserve tickets, member-only days, and member-exclusive events. Head to visitsam.org/join. – [📸Courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio, photo: Gao Yuan]

🌍 “The world is a scrillion years old. Maybe we get to 80? This in many ways is paradise if we experience it. So just live.” Artist Joyce J. Scott is back dropping gems from The Seat of Knowledge. Over 40 years of her art is now on view at SAM, and it reflects all the complexities of Scott’s ideas of being human. “Joyce J. Scott: Walk a Mile in My Dreams” at the Seattle Art Museum closes January 19! Learn more and get tickets at visitsam.org/scott. – [📹 @nataliwiseman]

🤑It’s almost time to BUY WEIWEI! Tickets for 2025’s biggest art experience, “Ai, Rebel, The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei,” go on sale Thursday, January 16. Sign up at visitsam.org/rebeltix to get a reminder when tickets officially drop! By the way: The best way to experience “Ai, Rebel” is as a SAM member. They get additional opportunities to experience the exhibition, including early access to reserve tickets, member-only days, and member-exclusive events. Join now to be able to reserve your timed tickets when they become available on Tuesday, January 14 at visitsam.org/join. – [📸Courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio, photo: Gao Yuan]

🎭 “…That comedian, that trickster, is the one who tells you what others would lose their head for.” – Joyce J. Scott on humor. Catch them while you can! Artist Joyce J. Scott is dropping gems from The Seat of Knowledge, her large-scale installation created for her 50-year retrospective, “Walk a Mile in My Dreams.” In this video, she talks about the profound importance of humor to her life and work. Also: she’s just hilarious. She couldn’t help it if she tried. The exhibition closes January 19, 2025! Learn more and get tickets at visitsam.org/scott. – [📹 @nataliwiseman]

And now, a timeline cleanse as we say goodbye to 2024 and welcome 2025… – #NewOnView #HappyNewYear [🎨 Greenland Gothic, 1935-37, Rockwell Kent, oil on canvas mounted on board, Painting: 34 x 44 1/2 in., Frame: 43 x 53 in., Gift of the Ann and Thomas Barwick Family Collection in honor of Derrick Cartwright, Director, Seattle Art Museum, 2009-2011, 2022.22.2.]

“The power of art as a wearable spirit, as a vehicle, is insurmountable.” – Joyce J. Scott In this video from our series, “The Seat of Knowledge," filmed with the artist inside in her large-scale installation at SAM, Scott talks about personal style and how individuals and artists have used style to connect with others and communicate ideas. Step into the visionary world of Joyce J. Scott, an artist who upends hierarchies of art and craft to create work woven with revelatory meanings. “Joyce J. Scott: Walk a Mile in My Dreams” is on view at the Seattle Art Museum through January 19. Learn more and get tickets: visitsam.org/scott – [📹 @nataliwiseman]

“I had probably the best-looking placenta possible.” So said Joyce J. Scott in a 2009 oral interview for the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. In this video made with the SAM team, she reflects on becoming an artist, which she says started “in utero.” Scott comes from a long line of artists and makers, and her parents and community nurtured her artistic gifts and curious mind throughout her childhood and education. (Except for one guy who didn't know what he was talking about..!) The major retrospective “Walk a Mile in My Dreams” looks back over 50 years of her career. You’ve got just one month–that’s ONE MONTH–left to see this exhibition of over 150 dazzling works, including sculpture, bead work, jewelry, textiles, artwear garments, and mixed-media installation. Learn more and get tickets: visitsam.org/scott – [📹 Natali Wiseman]

Following Space: Thaddeus Mosley & Alexander Calder | Nov 20, 2024–Jun 1, 2025 Seattle Art Museum
Following Space: Thaddeus Mosley & Alexander Calder | Nov 20, 2024–Jun 1, 2025 Seattle Art Museum

Be moved by art that takes you from the earth to the sky. “Following Space” pairs the sculptural visions of American artists Thaddeus Mosley and Alexander Calder. Mosley, a Pittsburgh-based contemporary sculptor inspired by modernist aesthetics and traditional African wood carvings, is recognized for his innovative concept of “weight in space,” in which sculptural forms appear to defy gravity. 17 of his large-scale wooden sculptures are paired with five seminal artworks by Calder, who revolutionized modern sculpture by introducing movement to the medium. “Following Space: Thaddeus Mosley & Alexander Calder” opens November 20 at the Seattle Art Museum. Tickets are now on sale—get yours today! visitsam.org/calder _ [📹 L.Fried]

Joyce J. Scott: Walk a Mile in My Dreams | Oct 17 2024 – Jan 19 2025 | Seattle Art Museum
Joyce J. Scott: Walk a Mile in My Dreams | Oct 17 2024 – Jan 19 2025 | Seattle Art Museum

✨ “There’s something magical, alchemical, about being an artist.” – Joyce J. Scott Step into the visionary world of Joyce J. Scott, celebrated as one of today’s most prolific and boundary-breaking artists. Best known for her virtuosic use of beads and glass, Scott upends hierarchies of art and craft, captivating audiences with beauty, humor, and a fearless exploration of pressing issues like racism, sexism, and "all the 'isms' society has to offer." "Joyce J. Scott: Walk a Mile in My Dreams" features nearly 140 works from the 1970s to the present—including sculpture, bead work, jewelry, textiles, artwear garments, performance compilations, mixed-media installations, and a new large-scale commission. The exhibition is co-organized by the Seattle Art Museum and Baltimore Museum of Art. Opening day is Thursday, October 17, and tickets are now on sale! Reserve yours at visitsam.org/scott and be one of the first to experience Scott's utterly unique artistic vision. [🎥 L.Fried]

Botany with Bobby: Shady Benches at the Olympic Sculpture Park
Botany with Bobby: Shady Benches at the Olympic Sculpture Park

🪑 "If it fits, I sits." – Bobby McCullough In this episode of our fan-favorite video series 🍃 Botany with Bobby 🍃, Bobby McCullough, SAM's Facilities and Landscape Manager, shares three shady benches (which are also art!) at the Olympic Sculpture Park to sit in and enjoy the final days of summer. Watch now! ⬇️

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