Art For The People
Every day art comes alive in Washington, DC. In a city famed for its museums, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center is often called the “best kept secret” in the nation's capital. It houses the country’s largest public art collection outside of a museum, and the largest of any convention center nationwide.
Visitors from around the world can feast their eyes on more than 130 works of art in the hallways, entrances and stairwells of the Convention Center. This diverse collection showcases the best of local and international artists, and includes one-of-a-kind sculptures, paintings, and photography. Pieces in the collection celebrate the human connection and the diversity of the District, highlighting the historic Shaw community, one of the city’s oldest African American neighborhoods. Make sure to check out the collection the next time you are downtown.
Community and the Arts
Behind the Scenes of the $4M Art Collection
Art at the Center
The Walter E. Washington Convention Center’s art collection is the best kept secret in the nation’s capital. In addition to being a state-of-the-art Convention Center, the building is home to one of the largest public art collections in Washington, DC outside of any DC museum with 137 works by 93 artists. One highlight is Sol LeWitt's Wall Drawing #1103, encompassing a two-story staircase. Another is the Shaw Wall, a 72-foot wall of dynamic artwork that honors and celebrates the Shaw community, the neighborhood that is home to the Convention Center. The hour-long tour of select artworks is free of charge.
