Open Studio: Build Day

Celebrate springtime with vibrant opportunities for artistic expression every weekend in May at Open Studio. Together we will explore how artists collaborate, build, and grow to redefine art across mediums and break artistic boundaries. We’ll also discover the work of groundbreaking artists including Hiroshi Sugimoto, OSGEMEOS, and Aliza Nisenbaum. 

It’s Build Day! Join Hirshhorn Kids, District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) Arts, George Washington University’s Fab Lab, and Boolean Girl for an all-day hands-on exploration of design and building. This weekend, Art School will be taken over by building and play zones for artists of all ages. Make an LED sculpture inspired by Olafur Eliasson with Boolean Girl, explore 3D printing with Fab Lab, or create your own building zone with bricks and blocks! There’s something for everyone. 

Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level.

ABOUT OPEN STUDIO 

Let your creativity run wild at Open Studio! Drop in and explore modern and contemporary art through interactive, hands-on activities inspired by the Hirshhorn collection and remarkable artworks on view. Open Studio helps you transform your ideas into reality.

Every session introduces a new theme and a fresh perspective on art-making. Activities are designed to captivate everyone—from budding young artists to seasoned creators—allowing you to craft, create, and learn. 

No reservations or tickets are required. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby and on the Lower Level.

If there are services or accommodations that can improve your experience (e.g., ASL interpretation, live captioning, etc.), please contact HMSGeducation@si.edu; one to two weeks’ advance notice is recommended but not required.

Storytime Studio: Iggy Peck, Architect

Creativity is vibrant on Wednesdays at Storytime Studio. Celebrate spring with your littlest artist. Every week offers a new adventure.

This week: Be an architect! Join us as we explore architecture through a read-aloud of Iggy Peck, Architect. We’ll take a close look at the Hirshhorn’s largest sculpture: our building! Then we’ll learn more about architecture and design through a hands-on building activity.

Featured Book: Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty

Program Schedule 

Storytime Studio is a one-hour experience, with entry times at 10 AM and 11 AM. No registration is required. Visitors receive their entry time upon arrival. Depending on availability, you may be asked to enjoy the galleries prior to your start time.

Meet in the Hirshhorn Art School on the Lower Level.

ABOUT STORYTIME STUDIO 

Join us at the Hirshhorn Art School for Storytime Studio—a captivating blend of play, educator-led read-alouds, and art exploration designed for kids from birth to age 8 as well as their caregivers. Every Wednesday morning, step into our studio, where art comes alive to enjoy a special Storytime adventure. 

Know before You Go

Storytime Studio has limited capacity. Participation for each adult and child is limited to one hour. Depending on availability, you may be asked to enjoy the galleries prior to your start time. No reservations or tickets are required. 

Nursing caregivers are welcome. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby and on the Lower Level.

If there are services or accommodations that can improve your experience (e.g., ASL interpretation, live captioning, etc.), please contact HMSGeducation@si.edu; one to two weeks’ advance notice is recommended but not required.

Teen Studio: Artful Archives, Part 1

Teens: Are you ready to level up your art? Join us for Teen Studio, a free art-making program exclusively for teens (ages 13–18). Push your artistic boundaries using materials and techniques inspired by the Hirshhorn Museum’s remarkable collection of modern and contemporary art. Each month introduces new artists, materials, and opportunities for art making! 

In this two-part Teen Studio, we’ll explore the Hirshhorn’s newest exhibit, Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen! Draw inspiration from Pendleton’s distinctive style, featuring drips, splatters, and sprays. Explore the possibilities: layer paint, archival images, and your own screen-print design to create something unique. 

In Part 1, we will DIY our own silkscreen prints after a guided exploration of Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen. Teen artists are welcome to return the following week for Part 2, in which we’ll print our design between layers of archival images and paint! 

Although this program is designed to span two sessions on consecutive weekends, we also welcome participants to individual sessions. Feel free to jump into whichever workshop works best for you! 

Registration is required; space is limited. To register, email HMSGeducation@si.edu. We ask that registered teens arrive on time and stay for the whole workshop to get the most out of their experience. Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level.

Looking for more? Explore Art School Everywhere, wherever you are, to learn about artists at the Hirshhorn and get creative any time.

Do this at home! Did you know you already have a print at your disposal? Inspired by artist Yves Klein, use paint, canvas, and your own handprint to create something unique. Find more here.

ABOUT TEEN STUDIO 

Teens (ages 13–18) are invited to hang out and get creative at the Hirshhorn’s Teen Studio. Teen Studio is a free twice-monthly series of art-making workshops offered the first and last Saturday of every month from 3 to 5 PM. All skill levels are welcome—from the novice notebook doodler to the experienced teen artist. There is something for everyone! 

Each month, we’ll dive into a fresh theme inspired by artists on view and explore it over two workshops. Each workshop offers a mix of time in the galleries, where we’ll encounter groundbreaking artists, and time in Hirshhorn Art School, where we’ll experiment with new media and materials. Whether you’re into painting, sculpture, 3D design, animation, or something else, you’ll get hands-on experience and unlock new creative skills. 

To join Teen Studio, register by emailing HMSGeducation@si.edu. We ask that registered teens arrive on time and stay for the whole workshop to get the most out of their experience. 

If there are services or accommodations that can improve your experience (e.g., ASL interpretation, live captioning, etc.), please contact HMSGeducation@si.edu; one to two weeks’ advance notice is recommended but not required.

Teen Studio: Artful Archives, Part 2

Teens: Are you ready to level up your art? Join us for Teen Studio, a free art-making program exclusively for teens (ages 13–18). Push your artistic boundaries using materials and techniques inspired by the Hirshhorn Museum’s remarkable collection of modern and contemporary art. Each month introduces new artists, materials, and opportunities for art making! 

In this two-part Teen Studio, we’ll explore the Hirshhorn’s newest exhibit, Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen! Draw inspiration from Pendleton’s distinctive style, featuring drips, splatters, and sprays. Explore the possibilities: layer paint, archival images, and your own screen-print design to create something unique.

In Part 2, we will build off Part 1 and print our design between layers of archival images and paint, inspired by a visit to Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen.

Although this program is designed to span two sessions on consecutive weekends, we also welcome participants to individual sessions. Feel free to jump into whichever workshop works best for you! 

Registration is required; space is limited. To register, email HMSGeducation@si.edu. We ask that registered teens arrive on time and stay for the whole workshop to get the most out of their experience. Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level.

Looking for more? Explore Art School Everywhere, wherever you are, to learn about artists at the Hirshhorn and get creative any time.

Do this at home! Follow in the footprints of artist Annette Lemieux by creating a unique work of art with your footprint. Find more here.

a camera with a roll of film that reads " hirshhorn inside out"

ABOUT TEEN STUDIO 

Teens (ages 13–18) are invited to hang out and get creative at the Hirshhorn’s Teen Studio. Teen Studio is a free series of art-making workshops offered the first and last Saturday of every month from 3 to 5 PM. All skill levels are welcome—from the novice notebook doodler to the experienced teen artist. There is something for everyone! 

Each month, we’ll dive into a fresh theme inspired by artists on view and explore it over two workshops. Each workshop offers a mix of time in the galleries, where we’ll encounter groundbreaking artists, and time in Hirshhorn Art School, where we’ll experiment with new media and materials. Whether you’re into painting, sculpture, 3D design, animation, or something else, you’ll get hands-on experience and unlock new creative skills. 

To join Teen Studio, register by emailing HMSGEducation@si.edu. We ask that registered teens arrive on time and stay for the whole workshop to get the most out of their experience. 

If there are services or accommodations that can improve your experience (e.g., ASL interpretation, live captioning, etc.), please contact HMSGeducation@si.edu; one to two weeks’ advance notice is recommended but not required. 

Open Studio: Found Around Town

This spring, creativity is in full bloom every Saturday at Open Studio! Discover fresh opportunities to express yourself and think like an artist. Each week introduces new artists, ideas, and creative challenges.

This week, we’ll explore artist Louise Nevelson and her work, Black Wall, 1964: an assemblage made from 24 stacked wooden crates, all painted black. Taking inspiration from Nevelson’s artistic use of everyday objects collected from her neighborhood, use wooden scraps, boxes, and other repurposed materials to build your own 3D sculpture. 

Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level.

ABOUT OPEN STUDIO 

Let your creativity run wild at Open Studio! Drop in and explore modern and contemporary art through interactive, hands-on activities inspired by the Hirshhorn collection and remarkable artworks on view. Open Studio helps you transform your ideas into reality.

Every session introduces a new theme and a fresh perspective on artmaking. Activities are designed to captivate everyone—from budding young artists to seasoned creators—allowing you to craft, create, and learn. 

No reservations or tickets required. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby and on the Lower Level.

If there are access services or accommodations that can make your experience more inclusive (e.g., ASL interpretation, live captioning, etc.), please contact hmsgeducation@si.edu; 1–2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required. For a group of ten or more, please contact hmsgeducation@si.edu to reserve a program in advance.

Open Studio: Hanging in the Balance

This April, creativity is in full bloom every Saturday at Open Studio!  Discover fresh opportunities to express yourself and think like an artist. Each week introduces new artists, ideas, and creative challenges.

This week, explore artist Alexander Calder and his works including Fish, 1944 and Zarabanda (One White Disc), 1955 on view in Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960. Then, build your own suspended sculpture to hang in the balance! Use pipe cleaners, coated wire, aluminum foil, and other loose parts to create and display your own unique work of art!  

Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level.

ABOUT OPEN STUDIO 

Let your creativity run wild at Open Studio! Drop in and explore modern and contemporary art through interactive, hands-on activities inspired by the Hirshhorn collection and remarkable artworks on view. Open Studio helps you transform your ideas into reality.

Every session introduces a new theme and a fresh perspective on artmaking. Activities are designed to captivate everyone—from budding young artists to seasoned creators—allowing you to craft, create, and learn. 

No reservations or tickets required. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby and on the Lower Level.

If there are access services or accommodations that can make your experience more inclusive (e.g., ASL interpretation, live captioning, etc.), please contact hmsgeducation@si.edu; 1–2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required. For a group of ten or more, please contact hmsgeducation@si.edu to reserve a program in advance.

Open Studio: Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose

This April, creativity is in full bloom every Saturday at Open Studio! Discover fresh opportunities to express yourself and think like an artist. Each week introduces new artists, ideas, and creative challenges.

This week, join us for an Open Studio inspired by artist Joseph Cornell’s use of found objects to craft imaginary worlds. In honor of Earth Day, we’ll consider the importance of repurposing everyday items by giving new life and meaning to discarded materials. 

Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level.

ABOUT OPEN STUDIO 

Let your creativity run wild at Open Studio! Drop in and explore modern and contemporary art through interactive, hands-on activities inspired by the Hirshhorn collection and remarkable artworks on view. Open Studio helps you transform your ideas into reality.

Every session introduces a new theme and a fresh perspective on artmaking. Activities are designed to captivate everyone—from budding young artists to seasoned creators—allowing you to craft, create, and learn. 

No reservations or tickets required. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby and on the Lower Level.

If there are access services or accommodations that can make your experience more inclusive (e.g., ASL interpretation, live captioning, etc.), please contact hmsgeducation@si.edu; 1–2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required. For a group of ten or more, please contact hmsgeducation@si.edu to reserve a program in advance.

Open Studio: Flower Frenzy

Creativity is in full bloom every Saturday at Open Studio! Discover fresh opportunities to express yourself and think like an artist. Each week introduces new artists, ideas, and creative challenges! 

This week, join us for an Open Studio inspired by Artist Giacomo Balla’s Futurist Flowers. Create your vision of the future and construct your own 3-dimensional botanical sculptures using rigid materials (corrugated paper, cardboard) and bright spring colors.  

Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level.

ABOUT OPEN STUDIO 

Let your creativity run wild at Open Studio! Drop in and explore modern and contemporary art through interactive, hands-on activities inspired by the Hirshhorn collection and remarkable artworks on view. Open Studio helps you transform your ideas into reality.

Every session introduces a new theme and a fresh perspective on artmaking. Activities are designed to captivate everyone—from budding young artists to seasoned creators—allowing you to craft, create, and learn. 

No reservations or tickets required. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby and on the Lower Level.

If there are access services or accommodations that can make your experience more inclusive (e.g., ASL interpretation, live captioning, etc.), please contact hmsgeducation@si.edu; 1–2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required. For a group of ten or more, please contact hmsgeducation@si.edu to reserve a program in advance.

Open Studio: Love, Queen

This month creativity is in full bloom every Saturday at Open Studio! Discover fresh opportunities to express yourself and think like an artist. Each week introduces new artists, ideas, and creative challenges! 

This week’s Open Studio takes inspiration from Hirshhorn’s newest exhibition, Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen by artist Adam Pendleton. Draw inspiration from Pendleton’s distinct style featuring drips, splatters, sprays, geometric shapes, words, and phrases. Experiment with painting, drawing, and photography to create a unique work of art. 

Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level.

ABOUT OPEN STUDIO 

Let your creativity run wild at Open Studio! Drop in and explore modern and contemporary art through interactive, hands-on activities inspired by the Hirshhorn collection and remarkable artworks on view. Open Studio helps you transform your ideas into reality.

Every session introduces a new theme and a fresh perspective on artmaking. Activities are designed to captivate everyone—from budding young artists to seasoned creators—allowing you to craft, create, and learn. 

No reservations or tickets required. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby and on the Lower Level.

If there are access services or accommodations that can make your experience more inclusive (e.g., ASL interpretation, live captioning, etc.), please contact hmsgeducation@si.edu; 1–2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required. For a group of ten or more, please contact hmsgeducation@si.edu to reserve a program in advance.

Teen Studio: Animated Imaginations, Part 2

We are now at capacity but have no fear! You can email hmsgeducation@si.edu to be added to the waitlist. To be among the first to know, sign up for our Hirshhorn Teens e-newsletter.

Teens: Are you ready to level up your art? Join us for Teen Studio, a free art-making program exclusively for teens (ages 13–18). Push your artistic boundaries using materials and techniques inspired by the Hirshhorn Museum’s remarkable collection of modern and contemporary art. Each month introduces new artists, materials, and opportunities for art making! 

This Teen Studio, we’re unleashing our creativity and putting our ideas in motion, through animation! Inspired by the mesmerizing zoetrope of twin artists OSGEMEOS, we’ll dive into the magic of motion. In Part 2, we will build off of Part 1 and animate our character designs. Explore dynamic techniques such as the spinning zoetrope and the art of stop motion.

Although this program is designed to span two sessions on consecutive weekends, we also welcome participants to individual sessions. Feel free to jump into whichever workshop works best for you! 

We ask that registered teens arrive on time and stay for the whole workshop to get the most out of their experience. Meet in the Art School on the Lower Level.

Looking for more? Explore Art School Everywhere, wherever you are, to learn more about artists at the Hirshhorn and get creative anytime.

Do this at home! In the video OSGEMEOS: On Zoetrope, twin artists Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo—a.k.a., OSGEMEOS—talk about their piece, Untitled (Zoetrope),  2014. Find more here.

a naked yellow character, a blue whale, a yellow and red tulip and a brown hand in a sculptural zoetrope.

OSGEMEOS, Untitled (Zoetrope), 2014. Mixed media. 200 13/16 x 236 1/4 x 196 7/8 (510 x 600 x 500 cm), as installed in Lyrical, Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2018–2019. Courtesy of Mattress Factory. © OSGEMEOS. Photo: Tom Little.

ABOUT TEEN STUDIO 

Hey Teens! Ready to level up your art game? Teens (ages 13–18) are invited to hang out and get creative at the Hirshhorn’s Teen Studio. Teen Studio is a free, twice-monthly series of art-making workshops offered the first and last Saturday of every month. All skill levels are welcome—from the novice notebook doodler to the experienced teen artist—there is something for everyone! 

Each month, we’ll dive into a fresh theme inspired by artists on view, and explore it over two workshops. Each workshop offers a mix of time in the galleries exploring groundbreaking artists and time in Hirshhorn Art School experimenting with new media and materials. Whether you’re into painting, sculpture, 3D design, animation or something else. You’ll get hands-on experience and unlock new creative skills. 

Workshops take place every first and last Saturday of the month, from 3–5 PM.

To join Teen Studio, register by emailing HMSGEducation@si.edu. We ask that registered teens arrive on time and stay for the whole workshop to get the most out of their experience. 

If there are access services or accommodations that can make your experience more inclusive (e.g., ASL interpretation, live captioning, etc.), please contact hmsgeducation@si.edu; 1–2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required. For a group of ten or more, please contact hmsgeducation@si.edu to request a program in advance.