About This Project
A modern, fast, and beautiful way to explore one of the world's finest art collections.
What is NGA Collection Explorer?
NGA Collection Explorer is an independent project that provides a modern interface for browsing the National Gallery of Art's extensive collection. We've built this tool to make it easier to discover, search, and enjoy artwork from one of America's greatest museums.
This project is powered by the National Gallery of Art Open Data Program, which provides free access to data about their collection including artwork records, artist information, and high-resolution images via the IIIF Image API.
Features
Browse Collection
Explore 138,000+ artworks including paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, and decorative arts.
Discover Artists
Learn about 13,000+ artists from around the world, from Renaissance masters to contemporary creators.
Search & Filter
Find exactly what you're looking for with powerful search and filtering by theme, style, classification, and more.
Samsung Frame TV
Export artwork in perfect 16:9 format for Samsung Frame TV with our interactive crop editor.
High-Resolution Downloads
Download artwork in 4K or 8K resolution for printing, wallpapers, or digital displays.
Explore Themes & Styles
Discover artwork by theme (landscapes, portraits, still life) or style (Impressionism, Baroque, Modern).
Data Source
All artwork data and images come from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. — one of the world's preeminent art museums.
The NGA has made their collection data freely available through their Open Data Program on GitHub. This includes:
- Object records for 130,000+ artworks
- Artist biographical information
- High-resolution images via IIIF
- Classification, theme, and style metadata
License & Usage
Creative Commons Zero (CC0)
Public Domain Dedication
The NGA Open Data is released under the CC0 1.0 Universal license, which means the data is in the public domain and can be used freely for any purpose.
What you can do:
- Use the data for any purpose, including commercial use
- Modify, adapt, and build upon the data
- Distribute and share freely
- No attribution required (though appreciated!)
For full license details, see the LICENSE file on GitHub.
Credits
This project would not be possible without the National Gallery of Art's commitment to open access and their generous release of collection data to the public.
Special thanks to the NGA digital team for maintaining the Open Data repository and IIIF image services.
About the Creator
Hi, I'm Miguel Puig Garcia, Head of Engineering based in London. I build things for the web and have a passion for making data accessible and beautiful.
Why I Built This
When I discovered that the National Gallery of Art had released their entire collection as open data, I knew I had to do something with it. Museums hold incredible treasures, but their digital interfaces often don't do justice to the art they contain.
I wanted to create a fast, modern, and enjoyable way to explore these masterpieces. Whether you're an art enthusiast, a student, or someone who owns a Samsung Frame TV and wants beautiful art on display, this tool is for you.
This project is also my way of celebrating open data and the institutions that embrace it. When museums share their collections freely, everyone benefits.