Phillips Collection: A Home That Changed How America Sees Art
Founded as a home in Dupont Circle and sustained by community, the Phillips Collection blends modern art, intimate spaces and civic connection as it looks toward its next century.
Joan Miró; Le Soleil rouge (The Red Sun) 1948; Oil on canvas; 36 1/4 × 28 3/4 in. (92 x 73 cm); The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC © Successió Miró / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris 2025.
A Museum Born at Home
The Phillips Collection began not as an institution, but as a family home. In 1921, collector and philanthropist Duncan Phillips and his wife, Marjorie Phillips, opened their Dupont Circle residence to the public, transforming a deeply personal space into what would become America’s first museum of modern art.
Shaped by loss and purpose following the deaths of his father and brother, Duncan Phillips and his mother began assembling an art collection in the family home in late 1918. Art, for Phillips, was not ornamental. He believed it was a source of learning, reflection and shared responsibility, something meant to be lived with. “Art should be experienced in intimate settings,” he believed, an idea that would define the museum’s character from the start.
That founding vision, art embedded in intimate rooms and spaces remains central to the Phillips Collection today.
Seeing Differently
From its earliest days, the Phillips Collection broke with convention. Rather than organizing works by period, nationality or style, Duncan Phillips placed artists from different eras and cultures side by side. A gallery might spark a dialogue between modern and contemporary works or reveal unexpected connections across time and geography.
This approach was radical in the early 20th century and remains influential. It reflects Phillips’s belief that art is subjective, shaped by how artists see and how viewers respond. He wanted visitors to discover those differences for themselves. The goal was not instruction, but engagement encouraging guests to slow down, look closely and form personal connections.
That philosophy underpins the museum’s distinction as “America’s first museum of modern art.” In practice, it means supporting living artists, presenting work across generations and resisting rigid categories. The galleries are intentionally intimate, designed to make modern and contemporary art feel accessible rather than intimidating, relevant rather than remote.
A Civic and Cultural Neighbor
Community has always been central to the Phillips experience. Rooted in Dupont Circle, the museum has long seen itself as both a cultural and civic space. That commitment extends across the region, including its satellite location at Phillips@THEARC in Southeast Washington, D.C.
Washington-area communities actively shape the museum’s work through partnerships, education programs, artist collaborations and ongoing listening. Rather than simply presenting exhibitions, the Phillips builds experiences that respond to local voices and interests. Programming evolves from dialogue, reinforcing the museum’s role as a place of connection.
That sense of welcome resonates with visitors from neighborhoods like Del Ray and across Northern Virginia. Many are drawn to the Phillips for the same reasons they cherish their own communities: warmth, creativity and a strong sense of place. The museum offers a setting to slow down, find respite and share meaningful moments whether through art, music or family programs.
Looking Toward 2026
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the Phillips Collection is preparing a season that highlights dynamic expressions of American art across the past century and into the present. The year begins with Miró and the United States, opening March 21, followed by a Juried Invitational showcasing innovative contemporary art from the region on Aug. 1. The season culminates in a late-fall exhibition exploring the spirited connections among American modernists Milton Avery, Adolph Gottlieb and Mark Rothko.
Alongside exhibitions, the museum continues to reimagine its galleries and guest experience. Ongoing projects emphasize welcome, discovery and moments of rest and reflection, initiatives designed to resonate with longtime art lovers, families and first-time visitors alike.
Music, education and interdisciplinary programming remain essential to that vision. Concerts in the galleries, artist talks and hands-on learning experiences create multiple entry points into the collection. These offerings ensure the Phillips is not a static place, but a living, evolving one.
An Open Invitation
For those who have never visited or haven’t returned in years the Phillips Collection may feel both familiar and surprising. The historic spaces remain, but the stories, voices and ways of welcoming guests continue to evolve.
Now, museum leaders say, is an ideal time to experience the Phillips: to see beloved works anew, discover contemporary perspectives, enjoy music among the art or simply spend an afternoon in a place designed for reflection and connection. More than a century after opening its doors, the Phillips remains true to its founding idea, a home for art, conversation and seeing differently.