Special Olympic Athletes’ Portrait on View at the National Portrait Gallery

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery recognizes the life and accomplishments of Martin “Marty” Sheets. A painting of Eunice Kennedy Shriver with Sheets and other Special Olympics athletes by David Lenz is currently on view on the second floor of museum in the permanent exhibition, “The Struggle for Justice.” The museum has installed an “in memoriam” note to the label.

Sheets was an inspirational Special Olympics athlete who lived with Down syndrome. In 1968, he attended the first Special Olympics competition, where he met Shriver. He was active in the program for many years and won more than 200 medals in local, state, national and world Special Olympics competitions. While his favorite sport was golf, he competed five times in world games in several events, including swimming and skiing.

In addition to his athletic successes, Sheets was recognized by his community for his civic achievements and by Macy’s, his longtime employer. In 2000, Governor Jim Hunt of North Carolina presented Sheets with the highest civilian award given in the state, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which honored him for being a good state ambassador.

This painting was commissioned from Lenz who was the top prize winner of the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition 2006.

National Portrait Gallery

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery tells the multifaceted story of America through the individuals who have shaped its culture. Through the visual arts, performing arts and new media, the Portrait Gallery portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists whose lives tell the American story.

The National Portrait Gallery is part of the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture at Eighth and F streets N.W., Washington, D.C. Smithsonian

Information: (202) 633-1000. Website: npg.si.edu. Connect with the museum at: @NPG, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Tumblr.

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