Gladstone Gallery: Smithsonian Air and Space Museum to Open Rauschenberg Flight Exhibition July 1
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, will open "The Ascent of Rauschenberg: Reinventing The Art of Flight" on July 1, 2026. The one-year exhibition features 30 works by Robert Rauschenberg, many never before displayed, that explore his recurring theme of flight as a metaphor for human ambition and collaboration. Loans come from the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Gallery of Art, and the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. The show will be installed on the second floor of the museum's Flight and the Arts Center.
The Signal
The exhibition places Rauschenberg's work in an unconventional institutional setting—an air and space museum—underscoring how his practice engaged with science and aviation. For collectors, the show signals sustained institutional demand for Rauschenberg's work and may draw attention to lesser-known pieces from his career that touch on broader cultural themes. The inclusion of rarely exhibited works could also stimulate market interest in specific pieces or series.
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- Artists: Robert Rauschenberg
- Galleries: Gladstone Gallery
- Museums: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Gallery of Art
- Locations: Washington, DC
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