Wonder at Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, November 13, 2015 – July 10, 2016

“The concept of ‘wonder’—that moment of astonishment in the face of something new and unknown that transports us out of the everyday—is deeply intertwined with how we experience art. These nine artists are masters of constructing works that startle us, overwhelm us and invite us to marvel—to wonder—at their creation. These elements matter in the context of this museum, devoted for more than four decades to the skilled working of materials in extraordinary ways.” — Nicholas R. Bell, The Fleur and Charles Bresler Curator-in-Charge of the Renwick Gallery

Jennifer Angus Renwick Wonder

Jennifer Angus, In the Midnight Garden, 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Photo by Ron Blunt

Jennifer Angus Renwick Wonder

Jennifer Angus, In the Midnight Garden (detail)

Chakaia Booker Renwick Wonder

Chakaia Booker, ANONYMOUS DONOR, 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Photo by Ron Blunt

Chakaia Booker Renwick Wonder

Chakaia Booker, ANONYMOUS DONOR (detail)

Renwick Wonder

Gabriel Dawe, Plexus A1, 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Courtesy Conduit Gallery. Photo by Ron Blunt

Renwick Wonder

Gabriel Dawe, Plexus A1 (detail)

Tara Donovan Renwick Wonder

Tara Donovan, Untitled, 2014. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. © Tara Donovan, courtesy of Pace Gallery. Photo by Ron Blunt

Tara Donovan Renwick Wonder

Tara Donovan, Untitled (detail)

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Patrick Dougherty, Shindig, 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Photo by Ron Blunt

Patrick Dougherty Renwick Wonder

Patrick Dougherty, Shindig (detail)

Renwick Wonder

Janet Echelman, 1.8, 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Courtesy of Janet Echelman, Inc. Photo by Ron Blunt

Renwick Wonder

Janet Echelman, 1.8 (detail)

John Grade Renwick Wonder

John Grade, Middle Fork, 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Photo by Ron Blunt

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John Grade, Middle Fork (detail)

Renwick Wonder

Maya Lin, Folding the Chesapeake, 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Photo by Ron Blunt

Renwick Wonder

Maya Lin, Folding the Chesapeake (detail)

Renwick Wonder

Leo Villareal, Volume (Renwick), 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. © Leo Villareal, courtesy CONNERSMITH. Photo by Ron Blunt

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Leo Villareal, Volume (Renwick) (detail)

Images courtesy Renwick Gallery. Photos by Roy Blunt.