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  3. Exhibitions

Current Exhibitions

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  • Art and Design (14) Filter by term plus Exclude term minus
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Displaying 15 of 15 exhibitions.

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    From Shadow to Substance: Grand-Scale Portraits During Photography’s Formative Years Added

    From Shadow to Substance: Grand-Scale Portraits During Photography’s Formative Years Removed

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    From Shadow to Substance: Grand-Scale Portraits During Photography’s Formative Years

    This exhibition traces the evolution of the grand-scale, whole-plate photograph format from the high-end daguerreotype to the more affordable tintype.

    June 20, 2025 – June 7, 2026

    Portrait Gallery

  • My Visit

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    Meserve Collection Highlights: Modern Prints from Mathew Brady’s Portrait Negatives Added

    Meserve Collection Highlights: Modern Prints from Mathew Brady’s Portrait Negatives Removed

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    Meserve Collection Highlights: Modern Prints from Mathew Brady’s Portrait Negatives

    The exhibition includes nine modern prints from Photographer Mathew Brady's original photographic negatives.

    May 23, 2025 – May 14, 2028

    Portrait Gallery

  • My Visit

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    Star Power: Photographs from Hollywood’s Golden Age by George Hurrell Added

    Star Power: Photographs from Hollywood’s Golden Age by George Hurrell Removed

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    Star Power: Photographs from Hollywood’s Golden Age by George Hurrell

    George Hurrell created definitive, timeless images of many of the most glamorous figures of filmdom’s golden era.

    March 1, 2024 – January 4, 2026

    Portrait Gallery

  • My Visit

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    Isaac Julien: Lessons of the Hour—Frederick Douglass Added

    Isaac Julien: Lessons of the Hour—Frederick Douglass Removed

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    Isaac Julien: Lessons of the Hour—Frederick Douglass

    Sir Isaac Julien’s moving image installation interweaves period reenactments across five screens to create a vivid picture of Frederick Douglass.

    December 8, 2023 – December 6, 2026

    Portrait Gallery

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    Recent Acquisitions, 2023 Added

    Recent Acquisitions, 2023 Removed

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    Recent Acquisitions, 2023

    Recent Acquisitions showcases 21 additions to the National Portrait Gallery’s collection with an exclusive focus on portraits representing women or made by women.

    November 3, 2023 – October 19, 2025

    Portrait Gallery

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    Abraham Lincoln by W.F.K. Travers Added

    Abraham Lincoln by W.F.K. Travers Removed

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    Abraham Lincoln by W.F.K. Travers

    The life size portrait of Abraham Lincoln by W.F.K. Travers joins the America's Presidents exhibition. 

    February 10, 2023 – December 31, 2027

    Portrait Gallery

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    Former President Barack Obama by Artist Kehinde Wiley Added

    Former President Barack Obama by Artist Kehinde Wiley Removed

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    Former President Barack Obama by Artist Kehinde Wiley

    The official portrait of the 44th President, Barack Obama, from artist Kehinde Wiley is on display.

    February 13, 2018 – February 20, 2028

    Portrait Gallery

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    America's Presidents Added

    America's Presidents Removed

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    America's Presidents

    The nation’s only complete collection of presidential portraits outside the White House tells the American story through the individuals who have shaped it.

    September 22, 2017 – Permanent

    Portrait Gallery

  • My Visit

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    Explore! with the National Portrait Gallery Added

    Explore! with the National Portrait Gallery Removed

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    Explore! with the National Portrait Gallery

    Explore! is a space where kids (ages 18 months to 8 years old accompanied by an adult) can experiment with portraiture hands-on. Hours are subject to change.

    January 28, 2017 – Indefinitely

    Portrait Gallery

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    The Four Justices Added

    The Four Justices Removed

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    The Four Justices

    See Supreme Court justices Sandra Day O'Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan in this life-size portrait.

    October 28, 2013 – Indefinitely

    Portrait Gallery

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    The Struggle for Justice Added

    The Struggle for Justice Removed

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    The Struggle for Justice

    This exhibition showcases major cultural and political figures who struggled to achieve civil rights for disenfranchised or marginalized groups.

    February 12, 2010 – Permanent

    Portrait Gallery

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    Champions Added

    Champions Removed

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    Champions

    Champions salutes the dynamic American sports figures whose impact extends beyond the athletic realm and makes them a part of the larger story of the nation.

    July 1, 2006 – Indefinitely

    Portrait Gallery

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    Twentieth-Century Americans Added

    Twentieth-Century Americans Removed

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    Twentieth-Century Americans

    Four galleries showcase the major cultural, scientific, and political figures of the 20th century.

    July 1, 2006 – Permanent

    Portrait Gallery

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    Bravo! Added

    Bravo! Removed

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    Bravo!

    Bravo! showcases individuals who have brought the performing arts to life.

    July 1, 2006 – Indefinitely

    Portrait Gallery

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    Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900 Added

    Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900 Removed

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    Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900

    Portraits of Indigenous Americans, European colonists, clergymen, soldiers, writers, performers, scientists, and others who helped shape the country. 

    July 1, 2006 – Permanent

    Portrait Gallery

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