Join us for the Opening Reception of the April Exhibitions. See new bodies of work by McCain McMurray and Thomas McMurray, plus the April Group Exhibition!

Join us in the Gallery to hear from artist Tom McMurray about his Lines in Country photography exhibition; part of a larger effort to protect the Kimberley and Pilbara region of NW Australia.

McMurray was a member of a team of photographers and filmmakers that documented the lives of five people and told their stories of protecting a way of life. Country to them means a sense of belonging and identity that is deeply spiritual and forms the basis for their belief system and connection to their ancestors.

The story of the documentary film can be seen at www.keepingcountry.com

Join us for a virtual panel discussion about figures and figuration in art. Artist panelists Teresa Oaxaca, Neville Barbour, Brianne Anderson, and Rosa Vera discuss the use of human figures in their work.

Related exhibitions: Explore Oaxaca’s gallery show, Mythos and Nature: Exploring the Mystical Connection, through March 30, and the virtual figure exhibition through March 31.

Celebrate Cherry Blossom Season with the flowers and colors currently on view at Touchstone Gallery.

Enjoy extended hours to explore current solo exhibitions by Teresa Oaxaca and Cookie Kerxton, plus a group show by Touchstone artists. You can also search for pinks and blossom in our Artist Pinks scavenger hunt, enjoy a refreshing beverages, and take home a blossom!

Be among the first to see Shapes and Colors by Cookie Kerxton and Mythos and Nature: Exploring the Mystical Connection by Teresa Oaxaca from 4-7 pm on Saturday, March 2.

Growing Pains is a juried student art exhibition that encouraged student artists to submit work that explores ideas revolving around themes of growing up and experiencing childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. How much can a person transform throughout these years? How are we the same? How are we different? How do we metamorphose? 

Students from Academies of Loudoun, American University, Arizona State University, Briar Woods High School, Corcoran School of the Arts and Design at the George Washington University, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Johns Hopkins University, Landon School, Sidwell Friends, Wesleyan University, and Westfield High School are respresented in the exhibition.

A reception will be held on Saturday, February 24 from 3-5 pm.

Growing Pains jurors were:

• Alicia Perkovich, NMWA Public Programs

• Daryle Locko, Artist, National Gallery of Art Retail Programs & Touchstone Gallery Assistant

• Julia Canora, Artist and Touchstone Gallery Curatorial Intern

Join us for evening gallery hours on Thursday, February 8 during figure happy hour from 6:30 - 9 pm.

Explore the exhibitions, vogue with Out the Dollhouse II, and bring an item of clothing that needs a little love for visible mending, embroidery, and patchwork fun.

Join us for the exhibition reception of Lines Matter: The Stories They Tell by Debra Perkins and unleaving (to hold in mind what is and what was) by Dana Brotman.

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Spend Saturday, October 14 at the annual DC History Center community day, On the Square! Located on Mount Vernon Square—where multiple neighborhoods intersect—and neighbors and friends connect to reflect on the past, celebrate today’s vibrant communities, and dream of a more just future.

At Touchstone Gallery you can create your own artwork based on the current exhibitions: unleaving and Lines Matter (all ages welcome but best for ages 3+).

After On the Square ends, join Touchstone from 4 - 7 pm for the exhibition reception of Lines Matter: The Stories They Tell by Debra Perkins and unleaving (to hold in mind what is and what was) by Dana Brotman. Enjoy a complimentary beverage while you explore the gallery and listen to live jazz music from Alex Martin (guitar) and Eugenio Ibarz (bass).

At the DC History Center (inside the Carnegie Library) listen in on pop-up talks in THE BIG PICTURE, examine resources in the Kiplinger Research Library, take a walking tour of the building or neighborhood, and get crafty in Memorial Hall.

Register on Eventbrite!

People and The Planet is a juried exhibiton that invited artists to think about our world and the humanity within it—how humans interact with the earth and all of its inhabitants. Featured artwork explores environmental & social issues, human interactions with nature, travel, climate change, natural materials & resources, population & development, Indigenous perspectives, changing landscapes, new discoveries, and more.

See more >>>

Touchstone Gallery presents the Attainable Art Show and Party—an art exhibition and summer soirée. This exclusive event invites art enthusiasts to support the artists of Touchstone Gallery and find new artwork to love. From vibrant paintings to thought-provoking photography and sculpture, the collection of works available showcases the diverse talents of Touchstone members. 

New Member Showcase and Touchstone Spotlight: Kelly Irvine Opening Reception

Artists featured in the New Member Showcase include Brianne Anderson, Neville Barbour, Sufie Berger, Susan Dykeman, Connie Elsberg, Marthe McGrath, Hernan Murno, Setareh Pourrajabi, Anne Stine, and Elena Tchernomazova.

Kelly Irvine is an abstract color field artist and textile print designer living and working in Baltimore, MD. Inspired by the canvas staining techniques and paintings of Helen Frankenthaler and the Washington Color School artists, Irvine’s paintings pull the viewer into a world of lush color, using sheer, overlapping hues, gestural brushwork, flowing movement, and repeating motifs.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, July 7 from 4:00 - 7:00 pm.

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Hear from the artists of Persian Perspectives: Celebrating Iranian Women Artists of DC, including Parinaz Ziai Bahadori, Saya Behnam, Katty Biglari, Roya Chadab, Setareh Pourrajabi, and Maryam Rassapour. Through their conversations and artwork, participating artists reveal how their heritage, experiences, and cultural background have shaped their artistic careers. Selected works explore themes of identity, gender, tradition, nature, resilience, and empowerment.

This discussion will be moderated by Washington Post reporter Miriam Berger, who covers international news and the Middle East.

Touchstone Gallery will open at 6:00 pm, with the event starting at 6:30 pm.

Join fellow art enthusiasts, collectors, and artists for an unforgettable night of exploration, connection, and celebration of identity and expression. Taste a selection of complimentary wines, cocktails, and zero proof beverages while experiencing Touchstone’s June exhibitions. Plus, view a special installation by Gallery Assistant Daryle Locko and create a custom takeaway.

Explore our exhibition Persian Perspectives and see the power of art as a vehicle for self-expression, social commentary, and celebration of individuality. Celebrate all the colors of nature in River  Trees  Sky by Mary Lagnaoui, and explore a vibrant member group show.

All artwork purchased during the event will be discounted 10%. 

This inclusive gathering is primarily intended for LGBTQ+ artists and art collectors but we enthusiastically invite everyone 21+, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, to join us.

Celebrate the opening of two new exhibitions at Touchstone Gallery on Saturday, June 3 from 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

Persian Perspectives: Celebrating Iranian Women Artists of DC

Touchstone Gallery, in collaboration with Touchstone Foundation for the Arts, announces the exhibition Persian Perspectives: Celebrating Iranian Women Artists of DC. This survey exhibition features works from artists Parinaz Ziai Bahadori, Saya Behnam, Katty Biglari, Roya Chadab, Setareh Pourrajabi, and Maryam Rassapour. Viewers are invited to experience selections from the vibrant and diverse world of contemporary Iranian artists working in the Washington, DC area—honoring the powerful voices and narratives of these women.

Through their work, participating artists reveal how their heritage, experiences, and cultural background have shaped their artistic careers. Selected works explore themes of identity, gender, tradition, nature, resilience, and empowerment.  

A panel discussion with the participating artists will be held on Tuesday, June 20 at 6:30 pm, moderated by Washington Post reporter Miriam Berger, who covers international news and the Middle East.  

River  Trees  Sky
A Solo Exhibition by Mary Lagnaoui

Inspired by how the weather and season radically change the colors of the landscape, in River  Trees  Sky, Touchstone artist Mary Lagnaoui presents a series of acrylic paintings that pull inspiration from her own immersion in the natural world, with additional influences from the works of Arthur Dove and Paul Klee.

“As often as I can, I walk along the Potomac River and more frequently, along the river in the park near my home. In this series, I tried to paint the way I feel when I am there, or what I sense strongly on a particular visit to those places,” says Lagnaoui. “Some days I am moved by the abundance of one lone color; other days I notice the movement around me as a strong wind stirs even the strongest tree limbs. At times I sense something soulful in the peace of an area where I walk. No matter what the day is like at the river, I always return from my walk restored, with a calmer mind and a lighter heart. All these are feelings and observations I sought to bring together when I was back at my easel.”