Release Date: November 30, 2012
Celebrate the Holiday Season with Art-Inspired Gifts at the National Gallery of Art
A hand-made wreath crafted from dried magnolia leaves is available in the Gallery Shops.
Washington, DC—This season, visit the National Gallery of Art Shops for all of your shopping needs. A wide array of art-inspired holiday gifts, books, and keepsakes for the home and family are available in the Gallery's four permanent shops, and a selection of offerings inspired by Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective is available in a special exhibition shop at the exit of the exhibition. The Gallery is closed on December 25 and January 1.
2012 NGA Holiday Ornament—Commemorate the holiday season with the 2012 National Gallery of Art ornament. Inspired by an intricate woodcut by the German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528), the piece is one of a series of six circular patterns of intertwined ornament. In his diary, Dürer referred to these prints as “knots”; they were inspired by decorative motifs devised by Leonardo da Vinci and engraved by a follower in Milan. Dürer probably saw these engravings and related designs when he visited Venice in 1506–1507. Complex yet perfectly balanced, reminiscent of embroidery or Celtic designs, Dürer's knots are a technical tour de force with great visual appeal.
Plants—In a festive nod to the Gallery's reputation for horticultural excellence, the West Building Gallery Shop offers hand-made wreaths and mantelpieces crafted from dried magnolia leaves, adding a unique and elegant touch of nature to your holiday decor. Also available are live potted holiday plants, from silvery Colorado blue spruces to magnolia trees with deep green leaves.
Early American-Inspired—Early American gifts inspired by the Kaufman Collection (as seen in the installation Masterpieces of American Furniture from the Kaufman Collection 1700–1830, on permanent view) include hostess gifts such as beautiful artist-rendered pads of paper, placemats for holiday dining and serving, and elegant letterpress stationery and coasters.
Contemporary Art—Contemporary gifts include artful mobiles, including both high-end styles as well as playful children's versions. Affordable Alexander Calder–inspired mugs, totes, and T-shirts make great stocking stuffers. The East Building Shop offers books, prints, and many unique gifts related to contemporary art, including jewelry, scarves, home decor items, stationery, and more.
Jewelry and Accessories—Exclusive this season to the Gallery Shops is a colorful selection of Bohemian crystal jewelry and exquisite mouth-blown, hand-engraved, lead-free crystal from the renowned American-owned Czech firm Artel Glass. Find stylish felt winter hats for men and women, inspired by portraits in the recent exhibition George Bellows, exclusive to the Gallery and made in the United States.
Books—On the Concourse between the East and West Buildings, the Gallery's full-service bookstore features important Gallery exhibition catalogues and other publications, as well as an extensive library of books on art, architecture, photography, and other related subjects. Included in this rich offering of gift book ideas is DIY Art at Home: 28 Simple Projects for Chic Decor on the Cheap, a book that shows how easy it is to create modern masterpieces by using a few simple art supplies. Ken White's delightful 101 Things to Learn in Art School is an ingenious toolkit of ideas for the art student.
Children's Offerings—The Children's Shop has an exciting assortment of gifts to inspire creativity and encourage learning through exploration—art supplies, kits, books, games, and toys—all of which meet safety requirements established by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Take a tour of Washington's popular destinations in a delightful 3-D pop-up book, Washington: A 3-D Keepsake Cityscape. Safari, A Photicular Book is a fascinating look at eight wild animals that come alive like a 3-D movie through innovative lenticular technology.
Roy Lichtenstein—The special exhibition shop at the exit of Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective features a variety of items inspired by the artist's vibrant early pop-art style, which borrowed from comic-book imagery. A poster version of Lichtenstein's bold Little Big Painting (1965) has been specially produced for the Gallery in limited quantities and is available framed or unframed. In addition to the full-color exhibition catalogue Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective, the Gallery Shops carry a wide selection of scholarly titles and an eclectic mix of illustrated books. Other items include Gallery T-shirts in adult and children's sizes, an exhibition postcard book, DVD films about Lichtenstein produced by the Checkerboard Film Foundation, a striking pop art–inspired silk scarf and tie, calendars, coasters, glassware, and framed prints. Children's offerings include an entertaining selection of books about Lichtenstein, including a biography and a counting book for young readers.
Visit the Gallery Shops in person for a wide range of gift ideas and browse a selection of offerings online at http://shop.nga.gov. The Gallery's four permanent shops are located on the main floor of the West Building, the concourse level connecting the East and West Buildings, and the concourse level in the East Building.
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