Best Laid Plans: Unrealized Projects from the Archives of American Art

Best Laid Plans: Unrealized Projects from the Archives of American Art explores creative work that was proposed, begun, or imagined but never completed. Centered on unfinished artworks, the exhibition also presents plans for publications, exhibitions, and other artistic initiatives that were ultimately abandoned or otherwise unrealized. Many of these rarely seen materials exist only in archival form, offering insight into an important but less visible part of the Archives’ collections and bringing attention to little-known or previously unknown projects by influential artists and thinkers.

When: April 4–October 18, 2026

Hours: Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Tickets: Free

Venue: The Lawrence A. Fleischman Gallery, in the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture at 8th and F Streets NW

Lineup: Carl Andre, Stephen Antonakos, Gregory Battcock, Gretchen Bender, Dara Birnbaum, Bruce Conner, Lowell Darling, Nancy Holt, Robert Irwin, Gyorgy Kepes, Sol Lewitt, Robert Morris, Matt Mullican, Paul Ramirez Jonas, Ilene Segalove, Robert Smithson, Nancy Spero, Jessica Stockholder, Athena Tacha, and Mierle Laderman Ukeles

Admission note: The gallery is located two blocks from the Archives of American Art’s D.C. Research Center.

Visitor information: Visitors are directed to the Smithsonian’s visit-information page for current safety requirements and additional details.

Run time: Not applicable; this is a self-guided exhibition.

Ages: No age restriction is listed.