by Jessica Walthew, Conservator at Cooper Hewitt Mr. Pergolesi’s Curious Things (On view: Oct. 1, 2022- Jan. 22, 2023) includes one of my favorite objects in the museum’s collection: a copy of the Portland vase by English ceramics manufacturer Wedgwood, made in the mid-19th century. The original Portland vase is a marvel of ancient...

by Sarah D. Coffin, Senior Curator and Head, Product Design and Decorative Arts Department Emeritus, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Synonymous with the term Art Nouveau, Hector Guimard’s name is most widely known as the author of the sinuous, organic Metro station ironwork created at the time of the Paris 1900 world’s fair. However, Guimard...

Devon Zimmerman is a scholar of modern European and American art and design whose research focuses on the intersection of the history of the decorative arts and the historical avant-garde and is associate curator of modern and contemporary art at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art. He co-curated the exhibition, Deconstructing Power: W. E. B....

Alexandra Cunningham Cameron is an internationally-recognized curator, writer and critical thinker on contemporary design. She currently sits as curator of contemporary design and Hintz Secretarial Scholar at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Formerly editor in chief of independent arts journal The Miami Rail and Creative Director of the Design Miami/ fairs, Cameron has organized a...

This summer, the museum invited Cooper Hewitt members to the Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden to celebrate your continued support and welcome our new director, Maria Nicanor, to her post. With excitement and optimism for the future, Maria expressed her gratitude to board members, fellow staff, and members like you. Despite rainfall, we were delighted...

by Jessica Walthew, Conservator at Cooper Hewitt In the 18th century, European elite’s rapacious taste for luxury goods such as Asian porcelain wares reached a peak. To compete, local ceramics manufacturers were driven to develop innovative clay body recipes and glazes to match the translucency of true hard-paste porcelain. Cooper Hewitt’s collection has a wide...

Cynthia E. Smith, Curator of Socially Responsible Design, shares insights into her research for Designing Peace and how her work is emblematic of the museum’s longstanding interest in the powerful role design can play on the world stage. We’re grateful for the efforts of so many people whose dedication and commitment has brought this compelling...

Enjoy this illustrated excerpt tracing the history of the museum’s founding and learn a little more about Eleanor Hewitt’s green thumb. For more Hewitt sisters collection objects and history, be sure to visit Sarah & Eleanor Hewitt: Designing a Modern Museum  on view now! Excerpt, Moments of Innovation: A History of Smithsonian Illustrations by Evan...

Sarah and Eleanor Hewitt often hosted parties for friends and charitable events and today they need your help during your visit to the mansion! In anticipation of your visit, their grandfather, Peter J. Cooper, gave them a list of six clues to find garden-related objects across Duro Olowu Selects (Selects gallery, first floor) and Botanical...