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Join now A group of young people pose for a photograph SAAM Creatives A membership group for young professionals interested in the American art experience. Join now Close menu 1. Home 2. / SAAM Stories Taking a Closer Look at James Hampton's The Throne of the Third Heaven Our video series American Art Moments takes a closer look at a powerful yet enigmatic installation in SAAM's collection by a self-taught artist A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane. Howard Kaplan Writer December 16, 2021 I've always felt drawn to James Hampton's The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly, an iconic artwork in SAAM's collection. Even without knowing much about it, I found myself repeatedly visiting the gallery and sitting on the bench in front of the installation and taking it all in. And there's a lot to take in. Media - 1970.353.1-.116 - SAAM-1970.353.1-.116_9 - 127238 James Hampton, Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly, ca. 1950-1964, mixed media, dimensions variable, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of anonymous donors, 1970.353.1-.116 The piece is comprised of about 180 elements (of which 60 or so are currently on view) that Hampton put together himself, often covering each piece with silver and gold foil. He lived and worked in Washington, DC as a janitor in a federal office building. Many parts of The Throne are made from everyday things that had been discarded including sections of tables and chairs, vases and light bulbs. At the center of the piece are the words, "Fear Not." Leslie Umberger, curator of folk and self-taught art at SAAM, puts the work into context: "Hampton's masterpiece has become an enduring icon at SAAM. It's very human scale, there are crowns that look like they would fit right on your head or maybe that Hampton had worn. It's glimmering and resplendent and really beautiful. And it's also just profoundly humble, this amazing artwork that's made out of almost entirely discarded things just carefully covered and adorned and put together with such care. It's a very moving piece." Hampton spent about fourteen years assembling The Throne, basing it on a series of visions he had. Eventually, the work took on a life of its own, and he rented a carriage house near his home where he could work and assemble it. I wonder what it was like to see his creation unfold, glittering when a source of light hit one of the foil pieces. Media - 1970.353.1-.116 - SAAM-1970.353.1-.116_3 - 63455 Detail, James Hampton's The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly The presentation in SAAM's galleries includes a few elements that Hampton likely did not regard as part of the altar itself, but were found near it, and that reveal his working methods: a chalkboard showing some of Hampton's sketches or working plans and a small book he kept, written primarily in an invented or "asemic" script, meaning it is unreadable or lacking specific semantic content. Hampton referred to himself as "Director, special projects for the state of eternity" as well as "Saint James," an echo of Saint John who was divinely instructed to record his vision of the second coming in a secret script in a small book. Hampton had a vision that he brought to life but, sadly, died before he could complete it, let alone see it acquired by SAAM in 1970. "It rapidly became an audience favorite," Umberger adds, "and it has rarely been off view since then." Learn more about this iconic artwork in the American Art Moments video below. Curator Leslie Umberger discusses its creation, its relevance today, and the lasting impact of James Hampton's vision. Playlist Description Transcript * Categories * From the Collection Related Artworks James Hampton, The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium General Assembly, ca. 1950-1964, mixed media, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of anonymous donors, 1970.353.1-.134 The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' Millennium... Artist James Hampton Dateca. 1950-1964 mixed media On view Related Artists [https] James Hampton born Elloree, SC 1909-died Washington, DC 1964 Little is known about James Hampton, despite the grandeur of his self-chosen title, "Director, Special Projects for the State of Eternity." He was born in 1909 in Elloree, South Carolina, a small community of predominantly African-American sharecropper Recent Posts Large-scale installation of corncob pinatas. Latino ArtContemporary Craft10/01/2025 The Fantastical World of Justin Favela Gold-fringed walls and pinata corncobs transform the Grand Salon of SAAM's Renwick Gallery and highlight the role of maize in North American visual culture. Headshot of woman with black hair Rebekah Mejorado Public Relations Specialist Jane Carpenter-Rock standing in the Kogod Courtyard. From the DirectorNew Acquisitions07/10/2025 Director's Letter: Finding Inspiration at SAAM Acting Director Jane Carpenter-Rock on the inspiring collections at SAAM Professional photo of Jane Carpenter-Rock Jane Carpenter-Rock Acting Director Detail of black and white quilt with rows of stylized human figures. African American ArtFrom the Collection06/18/2025 Making Quilts and Preserving Black History Carolyn Mazloomi on the importance of art and community in her life. A photograph of Howard Kaplan on a plane. Howard Kaplan Writer Subscribe to our newsletter The latest news, articles, and resources sent to your inbox weekly. 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Want to learn more about the painting you found while clearing out the attic? For answers, be prepared for a little detective work. Read more Skip to the next menu Education For K-12 Teachers * Teachers Guides and Resources * Field Trips and School Tours * Professional Development * Classroom Videoconferences * Summer Institutes for Teachers * Student Artwork Showcase For Lifelong Learners * Adult Learners * Group Tour Request Learn from Home * Resources for Learning at Home * Family Activities Featured Resource Image of an oil painting titled Booker T. Washington Legend Educational Resources Search Find lesson plans, hands-on activities, and more for learners of all ages. 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