Capitol Modern


The Capitol Modern Museum, formerly named the Hawaii State Art Museum, is a small art gallery located on the second floor of the No. 1 Capitol District Building in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. Long known as HiSAM, the museum is operated by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

Background

The Hawaii State Art Museum first opened on November 1, 2002.

Current exhibits

The museum has temporary exhibitions, as well as a permanent display of Hawaiian art featuring a mix of Hawaii's ethnic and cultural traditions through 132 works of art by 105 artists.
Predominately comprising works dating from the 1960s to the present, the exhibition depicts the expression of artists throughout the state and their profound contributions toward understanding the people of Hawaii and their aspirations.

Critical reception

When HiSAM first opened, art critic Amaury Saint-Gilles wrote that the debut collection was "an intriguing melange of island art history weaving a full-colored tapestry".

Notable artists