The Phillips Collection

What a lovely space and collection! It’s refreshingly calm and quiet compared to all the Smithsonian museums, even in June. Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party is truly captivating to see in person; there are also works of Van Gogh, O’Keeffe, William Merritt Chase (who taught O’Keeffe and many others) and a slew of contemporary artists. The variety of artists is interesting and it really works. The Rothko room is powerfully serene. Even better, Tryst supplies the café and there’s a garden courtyard to enjoy. A must see. Now we’re going to plan a Phillips After 5 outing.

The Phillips Collection is still excellent! The current exhibit of landscapes is just gorgeous!

In a city where so many museums and so much art is available for free, it is sometimes tough to pay to get into a museum. However, if you are a lover of art and events, this is very much worth it.

Ok, I gotta start by saying that if this museums was located somewhere else in the country, I would probably give it a higher rating. But because it’s in D.C. and you honestly have a thousand options to pick from, this one it’s not event on my top 5.
If you ONLY want to see the Museum Exhibition stop during a weekday (Tuesday-​Friday) because entrance is free for everyone.
Right now they have the Paul G. Allen Family Collection which includes a couple pieces from Monet, Manet, Turner, Cezanne, O’Keeffe and Klimt. It’s really nice, but I prefer the pieces at the Gallery of Art.
The only thing I must say, is that if you LOVE Renoir as much as I do, they have the «Luncheon of the Boat Party» and it’s A-​MAZ-​ING!

I am in no way a professional reviewer: I am simply sharing my own experience and opinion, and hope that it provides perspective and incentive for readers and visitors to explore new places in the Washington D.C. area.
The Phillips Collection is a landmark for the Washington D.C. area. I am local to the area, and was raised in Maryland. I am now graduating college, and reflecting back on my life experience in the DMV, I’ve come to realize just how influential the museums in Washington DC can be. Washington D.C. is full of rich museums, galleries, and places to experience art in a countless amount of ways. There are tons of awesome free museums like the Hirschhorn, Natural History museum, Air and Space Museum. My mother insists on going to the National Gallery, for good reason. I spent most of my time growing up going there, however these past few years living in the city itself, I have developed an admiration for the Phillips Collection. It started as a hip expensive classy outing with my girlfriend, however slowly turned into writing a paper about fundraising and marketing at the Phillips, and eventually into a membership.
This museum is definitely considered a bit boojie (to say the least).
Entrance fee is slightly expensive without a student id, but is definitely worth at least one visit. The café is a secondary location to the Tryst café in washington D.C. which means that the selection is limited compared to all the awesome delicacies offered at the primary tryst location — for which reason I would recommend going there for an experience in its own.
There are also times of the week, clearly not as blatantly marketed, during which admission is free, a great opportunity for visitors and locals to both enjoy the collection and the overall museum experience.
Typically these free admission time periods become scarce when the museum is hosting and/​or exhibiting pieces temporarily
*something to consider
There is no doubt that there is something special about the Phillips Collection. The location of the Phillips immediately empowers it to stand out in this city. Separated from the Smithsonian, but amidst a neighborhood of privately owned galleries the Phillips is a great place to visit for new comers and DMV veterans alike.
The Phillips has an incredible permanent collection with pieces from Renoir, Van Gogh, Monet and other artists like Jacob Lawrence, William De Kooning. The permanent collection is regularly rotated so as to see pieces in their respective environment, as well as mixed up with paintings and sculptures from different periods, movements, and associations.
Lets not mention that the phillips collection has a room dedicated to Mark Rothko, as well as another room made entirely of Wax!

Good variety and nice collection but the floor staff could be more relaxed. I liked touring through the exhibits but don’t expect that I would like the night events as much because of the crowd.

This lovely gallery is located in the heart of DuPont. As you walk in, you get the aroma of the coffee and boy does it smell good. There are three floors and lots of paintings. There are a lot of Picasso pieces. The reason why I gave three stars is because the museums seems repetitive and nothing really stood out to me.

I’ve been to DC many times over the past 30 years but haven’t explored many of the «minor» museums. Recently I was staying at a hotel near Dupont Circle and the Phillips Collection was literally across the street so my wife and I checked it out. It was definitely worth the $ 12 admission.
One thing I liked about this museum is that, like the Frick Collection in NY, this is a smallish museum so you don’t get overly fatigued in seeing the whole collection. A highlight of the permanent collection for us was Renoir’s «Luncheon of the Boating Party.» The museum has a nice free audio tour available by calling a number on your cell phone.
We were fortunate to visit when they had a special exhibit, Gauguin to Picasso: Masterworks from Switzerland, The Staechelin & Im Obersteg Collections. Included in the exhibit was Gauguin’s «NAFEA faaipoipo (When Will You Marry?)» which was sold earlier this year to Qatar for some $ 300,000,000. It’s not every day you get to stand in the presence of such an object.
Now that I’ve been I’m excited to put the Phillips Collection on my regular DC museum rotation.

After many years of travelling to DC for long weekends, we finally made it to The Philips Collection … And we were whelmed. Not overwhelmed, not exactly underwhelmed … So let’s just say «whelmed».
It’s a nice enough museum, I guess. There are some fairly nice secondary pieces by major artists. The environment is pretty cool.
The standout piece, of course, is Renoir’s «Luncheon of the Boating Party» (1880 — 1881). It was a real treat to finally see this in person! Wow! That alone was worth the price of admission. It was also kind of nice to see de Chirico’s «Horses» (1928) although it’s one of his lesser works. One of the (unexpected) highlights was seeing the permanent installation by Wolfgang Laib … «Where Have You Gone — Where Are You Going?». It is essentially a closet illuminated by a single, dangling, bare bulb, where the walls and ceiling are covered with scented beeswax. It was gorgeous!
The Rothko Room was nice enough, although it didn’t move me like the Laib work did.
There were some nice works by Calder, Picasso, Gauguin, Van Gogh, O’Keeffe, Matisse, and a few other big names, but nothing worth making a fuss over.
It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re nearby just for the Renoir and the Laib pieces, but I wouldn’t make it a «Must See» destination.

The Phillips Collection, named for its founder, Duncan Phillips, opened in 1921 as America’s first museum of modern art. Although it’s holding include a number of earlier works, among them a St. Peter by El Greco (1605), it is best known for holdings of 19^th and 20^th century French and American artworks. Its most famous painting is likely Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party (1881) with their quartet of works by Mark Rothko from the 1950’s, which are always displayed in their own room, a close second. The Phillips occupies two adjacent buildings which are accessible; there is a gift shop on the ground floor. The Phillips has an active special exhibition program and continues to collect.

This was my second time in DC where I found the museums to be a fairly mixed bag. The ‘Air and Space’ and the American Indian Museums were the stand out museums with many of the Smithsonian museums not living up to the equivalents in London or New York.
This time I went a little off the beaten track to the DuPont Circle where I f found what is genuinely one of the best galleries in DC. This (astonishingly quiet) private collections in a old mansion includes paintings Rothko, Matisse, Van Gough, Monet, and Picasso There were also photographs by Furier and plenty of very interesting sculpture.
As it was so quiet (and so cheap at $ 12 entry) it was the most pleasurable museum Ive been to in DC where you can really consider and feel immersed in the art. A beautiful experience and even better considering they have a free tour daily at 12.
If you have an afternoon free this place is a must.

Loved this place. The people working there were very nice and helpful. The place is well lit and has some wonderful art with chairs to sit and stare. They also have an amazing library with art books galore. Go in and browse through all of the books. It was like being in a candy store to me. They also have a nice snack shop with really good cookies. Try the lemon snicker doodle. The building is interesting too, cool architecture in the old part of town. Don’t miss going downstairs, there is an amazing Van Gogh over the fireplace.

By far, the most unpleasant experience I’ve ever had in an art museum and I’ve been to numerous ones in the U.S. and Europe.
Thurs summer night at 7pm. Museum pretty much empty. Was told to hang my backpack over one arm only because it may hit other visitors. Why not enforce that policy only when it’s necessary?
Also, I got followed around like a potential shoplifter in a department store. I understand that you have to protect the art but try to be less conspicuous.
Katie R. was the only cool person in the house.
I’m not gonna dis the collection though, it’s small but impressive.

I brought my girlfriend here on a Thursday night thinking it would be a fun date and relaxing evening. When we arrive there was a host at the door handing out fliers. She greeted everyone in front of us and handed them fliers, looked at us, looked away and greeted the folks standing behind us. I had to walk over and ask her for fliers, we felt this may have happened because we are a minority couple. Pretty upsetting, most of the lobby staff was non attentive to us as well. Not good! If it wasn’t for all the gorgeous art and nice café this place would get a 0. I’d say go but be weary of how you’re treated when you walk through the front door.

I wanted to like this museum more than I did, but was a little disappointed by the scope of the collection, which included just a handful of Impressionist paintings, some notable contemporary works, and a number of other pieces that just failed to hold my interest. Considering that the National Gallery of Art is absolutely FREE, it’s hard to justify paying even the modest entry fee for this private gallery near DuPont Circle, unless you happen to be in the area (as I was).
That said, if you need something to do on a Thursday evening, the Phillips Collection is one of the few museums in D.C. with extended hours, and makes for a nice little cultural appetizer before dinner. Make a point to check out the gallery’s most notable pieces: Renoir’s spectacular ‘Luncheon of the Boating Party’ and the impressive Rothko Room. You can get through most of the collection in less than an hour, but for the $ 12 admission fee, you may want to linger a bit.

Just an amazing place to relax and escape the busy world. Interesting paintings, you might spend an hour starrig at one painting, yeah it’s that good.
They also offer some pretty interesting stuff in the gift shop.

Only to reinforce that the institution has a vested interest in the contract food vendor–
Was looking forward to lunch – scoping in part for when my mother is in town, and remembering lunch when the café was downstairs many years ago.
Today’s experience was not great. The food was great – chicken soup and quiche-​like tart, plus serve-​yourself iced tea. The cash register woman was great.
The big issue was their process. I got there at 11:30, and got lunch at 12. In the interim, I bussed tables as older foreign tourists were arriving, but had no clean tables to sit at. The process was kind of frozen in place, which is not a good way to make money. Yes, few will ever come again but that doesn’t make it OK.
The faster you move people through (within reason) the more money you make. You need clean tables for folks to sit at right after they pay. You need food to come promptly so folks can then eat at their preferred pace and then leave. Repeat.
I was told that the hang up was a catering job for the museum (and a modest trolley did depart about 20 mins after I arrived). But that must happen regularly, and you can’t hold regular lunch customers hostage to the museum’s needs. Adjust their menu so it can be prepped at 11 am, or adjust the Café’s menu so it can be served promptly. But a half hour to get a cup of soup (presumably made at 10 am and heated in a pot since…) is not OK. I was looking forward to a 20-​minute lunch with newspaper and instead had a 45-​minute chance to watch the process unfold. (And the rowdy ‘70s British pop blasting out of the speakers facing the customers, and away from the staff, wasn’t helping.)

The Phillip’s Collection has been on my list of places to go in DC for awhile this winter and I will admit that cold weather conditions have inhibited me from living my life. That is… until I met Him. I came here recently on a second date with my devastatingly handsome life companion. We made the treacherous journey to the Phillips Collection in the sleet and freezing rain. Despite the life threatening conditions, the power of trying to impress Him and appearing collected compelled me to push on.
The Phillips itself feels like a quiet respite and warm hearth during the endless winter. The space itself feels less like a gallery and more like walking through someone’s home or private collection. My companion and I had come to see one of the Sunday concerts the museum typically puts on but spent some time browsing the space beforehand. The collection is well curated with an eclectic mix of classical works along with contemporary pieces that provide a holistic art experience. The performance was phenomenal and it lent itself very well to the acoustics of the concert hall. For those that have a penchant for classical music, this is a wonderful backdrop to catch a show and enjoy live instrumentals. Despite the frigid weather, this was a warm and fuzzy afternoon that will always be a sunny memory. Could the Phillips be the beginning of something magical and new?! The saga continues…

4.5 stars. I know that we’re spoiled in D.C. with free museums, but the Phillips is one that’s worth the entry fee. I have been going here for decades — and was a member before they closed for major renovations several years ago. So, clearly, I’m a fan.
I lucked out and got to see the neo-​impressionist (pointillism) exhibit this week — just before its departure. Absolutely stunning. I thought Seurat would be the main artist, but he was just one of a number of very talented artists experimenting with this style.
And I do like the renovations: the café (now, Tryst), book shop, main floor modern section. And, of course, the Sunday concerts are still in full swing. So why not five stars? Well, we have to pay $ 30 to go to the concerts now. They used to be free. The volunteers were a little tightly wound. In the Renoir room, I asked one when «The Boating Party» was exhibited in Paris (during the renovations) and she insisted the painting had never left D.C. Ahem.
My main criticism was not with this young woman, who was just having a bad day. It was with the scattered logic of the painting placements. It was just dumb luck that I found paintings from the same artist randomly displayed on different floors, in different genres — some in the mansion, some in the modern wings. This inconsistency felt strange: e.g., in some rooms, artists like Klee would have all his pieces together; in others, there was no rhyme or reason to them.
That said, the Phillips still has one of the best private collections in the country. And I will always love it – even during awkward phases.

It was so lovely to go by on the first Thursday of the month and enjoy the original Renoir «The Boating Party», which I had a print of as a teen. The original artwork, Renoir, Matisse, Monet, Degas, Bonnard and so on was absolutely mind boggling.
There was a Neo impressionism exhibit we loved. There are many, many rooms containing everything from classic to modern art and downstairs there is a lecture room and craft space. Upstairs there is a space for music and drinks (cash only) on the first Thursdays. I really love it and if I stay in Dc for any length of time I will become a member and I encourage you to do so also. Great place to mix and mingle a bit with others who have artistic interests.
If I did not have the flu from this awful weather I would tell you more, but let me suggest you visit, it’s wonderful, cozy and real — probably my favorite art gallery I have been to thus far, all the beauty of the Getty but in a comfortable, tasteful but nearly homey environment.

A great place to spend a reflective Sunday afternoon. I was here for the neo-​impressionism exhibit and the Laib Wax Room (which smells of sweet beeswax), and I left feeling inspired, contemplative and relaxed.

The Phillips Collection is a lovely art collection, quite different from the large museum galleries I have often visited. I made a special trip to see Renoir’s «Luncheon» painting, and was so glad I did. The collection is kept in a series of houses that have been purchased as the collection has grown over time, and you walk from room to room and up and down stairs. It is easy to see which rooms were what in the old house, and this adds to the charm of visiting.
The museum is within easy walking distance of Dupont Circle, and you get to enjoy some of the lovely old neighbourhoods in the area along the way. It took my husband and I about an hour and a half to see all the rooms in the collection, including time to stop at pieces we liked. The whole experience was a welcome respite from the busyness of D.C. sightseeing; quiet, peaceful and reflective.
The other reviews do an excellent job describing highlights of the collection, and I will end with saying if you are considering visiting this museum, definitely go — you won’t regret it.

Took myself on an independent trip to the Phillip’s Collection on a Thursday afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed myself. I paid $ 10 for admission with my student ID (regular is $ 12) and gained access to all floors and exhibits. The museum was quiet, peaceful, and proved to be a great walk/​journey from floor to floor.
I am not the biggest art fanatic, so it’s no surprise that my favorite exhibits were two of the ones highlighted on the museum’s pamphlet — Renoir’s ‘Luncheon’ and the beeswax room. I was able to appreciate the beauty in these two pieces as well as the significance to the PC.
As a DC resident and MD native, I’ve been to many of the museum’s in our nations capitol and had my experience ruined all by a field trip or group of loud tourists. So I was veryas grateful that the museum was quiet and the patrons were respectful. I highly recommend the PC for the DC resident/​tourist who wants to go ‘off the beaten path.‘
If you are looking for the ‘warm fuzzy’ feeling during your visit, hit up the basement floor where you will see artwork of local elementary schoolers, as well as two classrooms dedicated to youth and professional art education.

The Phillips Collection is truly a hidden gem in Dupont Circle. I came to see the Made in America exhibit, and spent the majority of my time there. Favorites include Childe Hassam — Washington Square Park, Walt Kuhn’s — Plumes, John Marin — Tunk Mountains, Stuart Davis — Blue Café, and Bradley Tomlin’s No. 8.
The permanent collection includes impressive pieces by Picasso, Kandinsky, Degas, Miro and of course the Renoir — Luncheon of the Boating Party.
The Rothko room was inspiring.
I also really loved the Fainting Couch installation — the Stargazer lily fragrance was intense! Don’t forget to checkout Wolfgang Laib’s Wax Room.
The museum is well-​staffed and I really liked the cell phone audio tour option.
I will definitely be back.
Plan to spend about three hours here.

I somehow stumbled onto this Collection while researching the National Gallery of Art for my visit to the city. I can’t express in mere words how glad I am that I found it.
I also happened to be visiting when the Collection had their ‘After 5′ event, and it sold out! I’m glad that I glad I purchased tickets well in advance…(and I’m not a fan of planning ahead when tourist-​ing somewhere!) However, it was interesting (and a little frustrating) that people considered this no more than a cocktail party, a social hour, and completely ignored the artwork, as well as blocking the artwork from the rest of us in the rooms where the food and beverage were located. However, I am glad that they ignored my favorite painting so that I could bask in its glow.
Even if there had been just the one painting I wanted to see, for me, it was well worth the price of admission. «Luncheon of the Boating Party» by Renoir. There were many other great paintings as well. But that one was my main purpose, and we saved it for the very last.
I’d recommend skipping the ‘After 5′ if you’re more interested in the artwork. It was our first time there, obviously, and we were not given any direction about where the supposed photo booth with Tiffany props was at (never did find it), or where the food or beverage was at, and how it worked. FTR, it appeared that some people, when they got to the food, just stayed right there in front of the table, blocking others from partaking.
Free coat check was nice. The employees in the Café’ were outstanding! They mastered the Dale Carnegie courses, for sure! I felt very welcome and they were so nice to EVERYONE who came in.
Lastly, it’s conveniently located just a block from the Metro.
The Collection is a ‘5’, but the After 5 is 3 stars at *best*.