National Museum of African Art

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• Learn more about Africa, anthropology, architecture, art, art history, auditory learners, crafts, cultures, fine art, folk arts, global education, museum education, visual learners, woodworking, and world history.

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The collection of the National Museum of African Art (NMAfA) at the Smithsonian Institution “embraces the diverse artistic expressions found throughout Africa, from ancient to contemporary times. Collection objects range from ceramics, textiles, furniture and tools to masks, figures and musical instruments. The arts of painting, printmaking, sculpture and other media are well represented by living artists whose works highlight individual creativity, address global and local art trends and innovatively transform artistic traditions into modern idioms.”Users can catch a glimpse of the museum’s many exhibitions and learn about their meanings and context in history and today’s world. These exhibits range in themes from images of power and identity to the fabric of Moroccan life. Many exhibitions that are no longer open for viewing at the museum can still be explored in their online format.Explore the Collection allows students to study African art in a more in-depth manner. This section of the website features information about the diversity in African art; imagery in African art; and uses of African art. The student can search the collection for items related to their topic, including architectural elements, masks, adornment, ceramics, and more.You can also find links to Smithsonian library and archives that hold materials related to the museum’s collections.