The Smithsonian American Art Museum / National Portrait Gallery Library Art and Artist Files
are scholarly resources that are carefully maintained for future researchers
and contain original pieces of ephemera such as small exhibition catalogues and
brochures, announcements of or invitations to gallery shows, and press
releases.
Although international artist material has been added to the
files in the past, currently the library will only accept material for American
artists. For an artist to warrant inclusion in the Art and Artist Files
collection, the artist should have been included in at least three group and/or
individual art exhibitions in an accredited art museum, commercial art gallery,
or college/university gallery or museum (that is not a student show). Other
criteria may also be considered at the discretion of the librarian or files
manager.
The following are acceptable material for the files:
- Artist statement or interview
- Artist biography, bibliography, and/or CV
- Invitation, announcement, and/or press release for a solo exhibition
- An exhibition catalogue, of less than 30 pages, from a museum or dealer on one artist (not a catalogue on multiple artists)
- Some newspaper or magazine articles which are not readily available online or at this library
The following are not accepted for the
files:
- Artist portfolio or self-published promotional material
- Unpublished or self-published materials
- Slides
- Photographs lacking clear copyright
- Photocopies
- Ephemera lacking bibliographic identity (name, place of publication, exhibition dates)
- Any materials which can be accessed via the internet
The library reserves the right to refuse any donations which are offered. Any items not accepted for inclusion into the vertical files can be mailed back to the sender, if requested.
The library welcomes freely given additions to the vertical
files.
Contact:
Contact:
- Main phone line (202-633-8236) or email silaapg@si.edu and the staff would be able to tell you what’s in your file.
- Additional information can be sent to the attention of Alice Clarke at:
Smithsonian American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery Library
PO Box 37012
VB 2100, MRC 975
Washington, DC 20013-7012