Upcoming ExhibitionsOpening June 14
David A. Douglas: Intersections
Presented by theĚýAlper Initiative for Washington Art
David Douglas, Artist
Anke Van Wagenberg, PhD, Curator
Ěý
Intersections brings together the poetic vision of Northern Virginia artist David A. Douglas, whose large-scale works blend drawing, painting, and photography to explore memory and place. Through landscapes and interior scenes glimpsed through windows, doors, and thresholds, Douglas invites viewers into layered environments that feel both deeply personal and universally familiar.
At the heart of Douglas’ work is a compelling question: Who are we, and how do we fit into the places we inhabit? His images reflect a deep engagement with the natural world, yet always with traces of human presence—benches, houses, clotheslines, and quiet figures—that hint at stories unfolding across time. These are not literal depictions of specific locations, but imaginative composites drawn from fragments of memory and observation. The result is a body of work that feels timeless, introspective, and emotionally resonant.
Ultimately, Intersections is an exploration of what it means to be a human being on this planet—connected to home, landscape, memory, and one another. The works ask gently profound questions: What makes a place meaningful? What does it mean to belong? What do we notice, and why? Through this exhibition, viewers are encouraged to slow down, reflect, and perhaps see themselves in a new way—not just in relation to the art, but in relation to their own lives, communities, and the world around them. Engaging, contemplative, and quietly powerful, Douglas' art opens a space for wonder and self-inquiry.
Right:ĚýDavid A. Douglas, Marcy’s Yard, 2019. Mixed media on panel, 85 x 65 inches.
Courtesy of the Halm Family.
Soaring (Narsha)
Presented by the Han-Mee Artists Association of Greater Washington (HMAAGW)
Curated by Jung-Sil Lee, PhD
Artists:
- Clare Chang
- Younho Choi
- Eunmee Chung
- Jilian Chung
- Kisoon J. Griffith
- Jihee Hahn
- Barbara Han
- Yumi Hogan
- Sunhee Kim Jung
- Bo Kim
- Hyun Jung Kim
- Jean Jinho Kim
- Jinchul Kim
- Joo Kim
- Jungeun Kim
- MyungSook Ryu Kim
- Sumita Kim
- Tae D. Kim-James
- Kyujin Lee
- Choung-Hee Lim
- Yoonsun Lim
- Minsun Oh Mun
- Jeong Sook Oh
- Jinsoon Oh
- Komelia Hongja Okim
- Junghwa Kim Paik
- Yeong-Hi Paik
- In-soon Shin
- SuLi
- Serena Yeo
- Sam-Kyun Yoon
American University Museum is proud to host Soaring (Narsha)—a landmark exhibition celebrating five decades of artistic achievement, cultural resilience, and the evolving spirit of Korean-American identity. Featuring works by 31 artists across a wide range of mediums and styles, the exhibition reflects on heritage while looking boldly toward the future.
Presented by the Han-Mee Artists Association of Greater Washington (HMAAGW) in honor of its 50th anniversary, Soaring (Narsha) highlights both the richness of Korean cultural traditions and the lived experiences of Korean immigrants in the United States.
Narsha, an archaic Korean word meaning “to soar high,” originates from Yongbieocheonga (Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven)—the first literary work written in Hangul. In this foundational text, six dragons ascend to the heavens, a metaphor for new beginnings and national transformation. In this spirit, the exhibition reimagines that upward flight through contemporary expression. We invite you to experience this powerful celebration of culture and creativity!
Right: Tae D Kjim-James, Excavated Bronze: After Rodin, 2025. Three-dimensional composition; biobased plastic, personal bag object 25 x 23 x 70 inches.
The Teen Experience
Presented in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary American Teenagers (MOCAT)
Curated by Mygenet Harris and Sarah Harnish
Artists:
- Sofia Aldana
- Amber Maren Auth
- Helen Besch
- Kia Brazhnikova
- Daisy Byer-Tuohey
- Mason Cameron
- Edie Castano
- Jaia Castro
- Annalyn Chao
- Erika Chen
- Kibb Chisambisha
- Asher Coelho
- Olivia Ensign
- Tessa Gonzalez-Ferrette
- Caitlyn Grant
- P. Arwyn Hager
- Juan Hernandez-Cabrera
- Etian Huang
- Mirivan Kim
- Nari Kim
- Ryan Kirsch
- Anastasia Kondratenko
- Eric Le
- Mads Maarbjerg
- Johnette Manongdo
- Giselle Maravilla
- Giselle Mayorga
- Natalie McMurry
- Mia Melton
- Jaycin Messer
- Lily Pacuit
- LĂ©da Pelton
- Lois Proeller
- Riana Ramoutar
- Rebecca Rhodes
- Vincent Richardson
- Elizabeth Shanefelter
- Alanna Sidlowski
- Abigail Stark
- Bilen Tamirat
- Mikayla Vesper
- Alex Weiss
- Max Zonov
What is it like to be a teen right now?
The Teen Experience is a powerful, immersive exhibition showcasing artwork and installations by teen artists from the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Visual Art Center, the oldest and longest-running magnet program within Montgomery County Maryland Public Schools. Through drawings, paintings, mixed media, and large-scale, interactive environments, these emerging artists offer a raw and honest glimpse into the realities of teen life in 2025.
The exhibition explores the emotional landscape of today’s youth—touching on identity, mental health, social and digital pressure, school, family, and the unspoken moments in between. Visitors will encounter spaces like a recreated teen bedroom, a school hallway, and even bathroom stalls layered with messages that reveal the inner thoughts and private lives of teens. Each piece invites conversation, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the modern teen experience.
American University Museum is proud to be one of the venues for MOCAT’s Totally Teen Summer along with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and the Kennedy Center. David Lopilato, founder of MOCAT, notes that the program is marking 100 years since the term “teenager” was first recognized in American culture.
This is not just a show about teenagers. It is by teenagers—featuring their words, their worries, their art, and their stories. Whether you’re a teen, a parent, a student, or someone reflecting on your own coming-of-age, The Teen Experience invites you to connect, reflect, and see the world through their eyes.
Right: Leda Pelton, What I will pack when I run away from home, 2024, Acrylic, posca markers on canvas, 82 x 50 inches.
Anarchy Loosed Upon the World: Vintage Photographs of the War in Vietnam
A Project Space Exhibition
From the collection of Jo C. Tartt, Jr.
“Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world…”
— W.B. Yeats, The Second Coming (1919)
The Vietnam War was the most photographed war in history, its chaos and tragedy captured with an immediacy never seen before. Anarchy Loosed Upon the World presents a rare and powerful selection of vintage "wire transmission" photographs—original press images that brought the front lines directly into American living rooms. Sourced from the archives of major newspapers including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times, these prints represent the courageous work of combat photojournalists who risked—and often lost—their lives to document the conflict.
Unlike modern reproductions, these are original prints made from negatives developed in field labs and transmitted by wire to news outlets across the country. While many of these iconic images are etched into our collective memory, surviving prints are scarce—most were destroyed after publication. This collection, assembled over more than a decade by collector Jo C. Tartt, offers a visceral, firsthand experience of what it meant to be at war, through the lens of those who witnessed it most closely.
This exhibition is not a chronological history of the war. Rather, it is a meditation on the human cost of conflict and the unique power of photography to bear witness. Through these images, the war—its sorrow, its chaos, its human toll—comes home once more.
Right: Eddie Adam, photographer.