The history of the permanent collection of the Art Museum of the Americas has roots in the former Visual Arts Unit of the Organization of American States. Under this unit, the first donation of art was received in 1949, a gift of painting by Brazilian artist Candido Portinari. In 1957 the OAS Permanent Council conferred institutional backing to the collection by establishing a modest Purchase Fund to support the acquisition of art for a collection that was to reflect the contemporary art of the member nations of the OAS to form an enduring cultural resource. Purchases made by the Visual Arts Unit were strongly linked to and influenced by the direction of its exhibition program, and a significant number of works were acquired directly from the artists on the occasion of a temporary exhibit at the OAS Gallery. In many cases, an OAS exhibition represented the artist's first individual exhibit outside of his/her country of origin.

When the museum officially opened in 1976, the collection numbered 250 works. Today, the collection has grown to close to 2000 objects in varying media including painting, sculpture, installations, prints, drawings and photographs. It reflects the rich diversity of artistic expression found in the region and provides an overview of stylistic and iconographic trends beginning in the early 20th-century. Exhibitions from the collection are regularly presented in the museum and works from the collection are loaned to other cultural institutions for special exhibitions. The museum’s extensive art archives complements the art collection and is an important research resource for documentation. Both collections serve to preserve a unique visual and written record of the artistic achievements of artists of the Americas and their contributions to world art.

AMA's archives are devoted to the collection and preservation of papers and other records related to the art and artists of the Americas with particular focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. Initiated in the early 1940s, the archives complement the museum's permanent art collection and serve as a central clearing-house for information on a broad geographical region. The exhibition catalogs, announcements, exhibition records, photographs, letters, news clippings, art periodicals, and other types of documents that make up the collection provide a rich research resource for students and scholars. For further information or to make arrangements to consult the archives, please call 202-458-3362 or aospinaj@oas.org

AMA loves a good party! Host your next event at our unique and beautiful museum and veranda just steps from the White House, Washington Monument, and National Mall. Whether you are planning an intimate gathering or a large meeting, AMA is a flexible venue that will be perfect for almost anything you need. Once guests pass through our beautiful collection of modern and contemporary artwork from across the hemisphere, you can use our unique, Mayan-inspired loggia and our outdoor veranda that overlooks a reflecting pool, the historical OAS main building, and a spectacular garden space. For more information, to visit our location, or to book an event, please contact our rental sales representative at 202.458.3349 or cmarroquin@oas.org.

With its unique regional focus, the Art Museum of the Americas collects, preserves, studies, and exhibits works by outstanding artists and carries out other activities of an educational nature. The museum's permanent collection of contemporary Latin American and Caribbean art is one of the most important of its kind in the United States. The museum also maintains a regular schedule of exhibits and related educational programs.

The Art Museum of the Americas of the Organization of American States was established in 1976 by resolution of the OAS Permanent Council in tribute to the two-hundredth anniversary of the independence of the United States, host country of the OAS. The historic building housing the Museum was designed by noted architect Paul Cret in 1912 as the residence for the Secretaries General of the Organization of American States. It is Spanish colonial in style with white walls, iron grilles, a red tiled roof and a loggia decorated with richly colored tiles in patterns modeled after Aztec and Mayan art.