BONNARD TO VUILLARD: THE INTIMATE POETRY OF EVERYDAY LIFE @ THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION

Taken from the Nabi Collection, a bequest from collector-philanthropists Vicki and Roger Sant, this exhibition focuses on a group of French Post-Impressionist artists working in the 1890s. The Nabis, as they called themselves, included Pierre Bonnard, Édouard Vuillard, Maurice Denis, and Félix Vallotton, among others. The group took their name from a Hebrew word for prophet, and group members believed art has an intimate connection to daily life. They specialized in both fine and decorative art forms, including painting, sculpture, lithography, stained glass, ceramics, and tapestry.
The Phillips Collection, Oct. 26-Jan. 26, 2020. $12

PAT STEIR: COLOR WHEEL @ HIRSHHORN MUSEUM

With a suite of works that, for 400 feet, circle the perimeter of the museum’s second floor galleries, the Hirshhorn hosts the largest installation to date by abstract painter Pat Steir. The thirty large-scale paintings form a massive color wheel that shifts with each painting. While the images pictured above give a hint of the work’s formal qualities, this is something you won’t be able to experience on your phone.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Oct. 24-Sept. 7, 2020. FREE

ALONSO BERRUGUETE: FIRST SCULPTOR OF RENAISSANCE SPAIN @ NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

Alonso Berruguete is considered the most important sculptor to work on the Iberian Peninsula in the first half of the 16th century. Displaying 40 works from across his career, the National Gallery of Art presents the first major exhibition of the artist’s work outside Spain. A portion of the exhibit will include reconstructed altarpieces, to demonstrate how Berruguete’s sculpture work would have appeared to his contemporaries.
National Gallery of Art, West Building, Oct. 13-Feb. 17, 2020. FREE

CAROLINE MACKINNON, LARRY GOMEZ, AND LAURA IRENE @ RHIZOME

This group show featuring three local artists ushers in a change of seasons and marks the Day of the Dead. The exhibition includes sea creature-inspired ceramic sculptures by Caroline MacKinnon, paintings by Larry Gomez, and an installation from Mexican American artist Laura Irene.  The exhibition includes a Dia de los Muertos community altar installation on Oct. 30.
Rhizome, Oct. 6-Nov. 2. FREE

WOMEN ARTISTS OF THE DUTCH GOLDEN AGE @ NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WOMEN IN THE ARTS

The artists typically explored in exhibits about the Dutch Golden Age are male. But a number of female artists excelled during the era, and this exhibition examines the work of painters including Judith Leyster, Maria Sibylla Merian, Magdalena van de Passe, Clara Peeters, Rachel Ruysch, Maria Schalcken, Anna Maria van Schurman, and Alida Withoos. These artists in the Netherlands in the 17th and 18th centuries studied subjects including still lifes and botanical illustrations, even as they faced more challenges than their male peers.
National Museum of Women in the Arts, Oct. 11-Jan. 5, 2020. $10.

PICTURING THE AMERICAN BUFFALO: GEORGE CATLIN AND MODERN NATIVE AMERICAN ARTISTS @ SMITHSONIAN AMERICAN ART MUSEUM

American Bison were everywhere in the 19th century Great Plains. This exhibition looks at the iconic creature through works by 19th century artist George Catlin and modern Native American artists, including Woody Crumbo, Paul Goodbear, Allan Houser, Julián Martínez, Jaune Quick-To-See Smith, and Beatien Yazz. Catlin’s project, begun in earnest in the 1830s, was fueled by fears that the American Indians, as well as the bison and their ancient way of life, would one day vanish. The 45 works on view are from the permanent collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Oct. 11-April 12, 2020. FREE

MINHWA: THE BEAUTY OF KOREAN FOLK PAINTINGS @ KOREAN CULTURAL CENTER

This exhibition features 19 contemporary artists inspired by the ancient folk painting tradition known as minhwa. The style was popular during the Joseon Dynasty between the 14th and 19th centuries, and is characterized by bright colors, whimsical depictions of nature, and a symbolic language. In partnership with the Korean Minhwa Center at Keimyung University, this exhibition includes works exploring a variety of subjects. Friday’s opening reception will include a presentation by artist Stephanie S. Lee and a free workshop.
Korean Cultural Center, Oct. 4-21. FREE

29ROOMS: EXPAND YOUR REALITY @ D.C. ARMORY

Refinery29 brings its immersive “real life wonderland” 29Rooms to D.C. Armory. The series of rooms includes interactive, immersive spaces, including photo booths, dance floors, palm reading sessions, and plenty of things to Instagram. Local artists, including Tenbeete Solomon, aka Trap Bob, collaborated on D.C.’s version of the exhibition.
D.C. Armory, Oct. 18-27. $29-$34. 

THE OUTWIN 2019: AMERICAN PORTRAITURE TODAY @ NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

Since 2006, the National Portrait Gallery has hosted a triennial competition for portrait artists living and working in the United States. This year’s finalists, drawn from more than 26,000 entries, included a number of entries from the D.C. area, including work by artists Joshua Cogan, Nekisha Durrett, Louie Palu, and Sheldon Scott, and Larry W. Cook Jr. See their work, along with entries from other finalists from around the country,  in this exhibition. The lucky first-prize winner will receive an award of $25,000 and a commission to make a portrait of a living person for the gallery’s permanent collection.
National Portrait Gallery, Oct. 26-Aug. 30, 2020. FREE