“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, In the Midnight Garden, 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Photo by Ron Blunt
Jennifer Angus, In the Midnight Garden (detail)
Chakaia Booker, ANONYMOUS DONOR, 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Photo by Ron Blunt
Chakaia Booker, ANONYMOUS DONOR (detail)
Gabriel Dawe, Plexus A1, 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Courtesy Conduit Gallery. Photo by Ron Blunt
Gabriel Dawe, Plexus A1 (detail)
Tara Donovan, Untitled, 2014. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. © Tara Donovan, courtesy of Pace Gallery. Photo by Ron Blunt
Tara Donovan, Untitled (detail)
Patrick Dougherty, Shindig, 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Photo by Ron Blunt
Patrick Dougherty, Shindig (detail)
Janet Echelman, 1.8, 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Courtesy of Janet Echelman, Inc. Photo by Ron Blunt
Janet Echelman, 1.8 (detail)
John Grade, Middle Fork, 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Photo by Ron Blunt
John Grade, Middle Fork (detail)
Maya Lin, Folding the Chesapeake, 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Photo by Ron Blunt
Maya Lin, Folding the Chesapeake (detail)
Leo Villareal, Volume (Renwick), 2015. Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. © Leo Villareal, courtesy CONNERSMITH. Photo by Ron Blunt
Leo Villareal, Volume (Renwick) (detail)
Images courtesy Renwick Gallery. Photos by Roy Blunt.