Five Ways the Portrait Gallery Rocked 2015
This December, take a look back at the Portrait Gallery in 2015, including the amazing programs, exhibitions, and events that took place this year. The year 2015 has proved to be a monumental one for the National Portrait Gallery. From incredible exhibitions to black tie galas and everything in between, the only way to describe it is “seriously amazing.” Scroll through to see some of the highlights of what we have done this year.
The year 2015 has proved to be a monumental one for the National Portrait Gallery. From incredible exhibitions to black tie galas and everything in between, the only way to describe it is “seriously amazing.” Scroll through to see some of the highlights of what we have done this year
1. We opened five special exhibitions. Sitters from Abraham Lincoln to Audra McDonald found homes in our special exhibitions this year. We also proudly installed “One Life: Dolores Huerta,” our first One Life exhibition devoted to a Latina.
2. We kicked off the America Now series. We were awed by the dance troupe Pilobolus and artist Bo Gehring, who joined us over Memorial Day as part of our first America Now program. We can’t wait to host similar programs over the next nine summers.
3. We honored the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act on our front steps. We partnered with Google to honor three individuals in an art installation on the steps of our museum on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the ADA. One of the honorees, Tatyana McFadden, visited her likeness in person.
4. We began our first-ever performance art series, IDENTIFY. One of the Portrait Gallery’s ongoing efforts is to acknowledge those who are missing from the museum’s historical collection. Our first two IDENTIFY performances by Wilmer Wilson IV and Martha McDonald were huge successes, and we’ll be continuing the series with three more artists in 2016.
5. We threw a black tie gala that raised $1.7 million. At the inaugural American Portrait Gala, we were proud to honor five exemplary individuals—Hank Aaron, Kyle Carpenter, Aretha Franklin, Carolina Herrera, and Maya Lin—while establishing a fund for future exhibitions. It’s been a great year for us, and we know that 2016 will only get better. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram so you don’t miss a thing.
