The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery held its 2019 American Portrait Gala on Sunday, Nov. 17, with more than 700 attendees representing some of the top names in science, entertainment and the arts. The event celebrated this year’s acquisitions and raised more than $2 million in support of the museum’s endowment for exhibitions.
The event honored Frances Arnold, scientist, engineer and Nobel laureate; Jeffrey P. Bezos, tech entrepreneur and philanthropist; award-winning American band Earth, Wind & Fire (Maurice White [posthumously], Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson); Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer, lyricist and actor; Indra Nooyi, business executive; and Anna Wintour, editor in chief of Vogue, U.S. artistic director and global content advisor of Condé Nast.
Honorees received the museum’s “Portrait of a Nation Prize” for their significant contributions to the nation’s shared history, development and culture. As part of the evening’s festivities, guests were treated to a private viewing of the honorees’ portraits, which will remain on view in the museum’s “Recent Acquisitions” exhibition through Aug. 30, 2020.
View Jeff Malet’s photos from the America Portrait Gala red carpet by clicking on the photo icons below.
Kim Sajet, director of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Jeff Bezos and his son, Preston. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Lin-Manuel Miranda and his wife, Vanessa Nadal. A photo of Lin-Manuel Miranda dressed in character from his Broadway smash “Hamilton” was one of the additions to the National Portrait Gallery collection. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Nobel Laureate and National Portrait Gallery 2019 Gala honoree Frances Arnold. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Earth, Wind and Fire members Verdine White (left), Philip Bailey and Ralph Johnson (right) with producer Clive Davis (2nd right). (photo by Jeff Malet)
Record producer Clive Davis has won five Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Former PepsiCo head Indra Nooyi (photo by Jeff Malet)
Anchyi Wei is a designer and artist who uses fashion as an outlet for her art. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Lindsey Koren and Jermaine House of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Kristy Snaman (left), Special Events Manager, National Portrait Gallery; andMarisabel Rey, Advancement Assistant at National Portrait Gallery (photo by Jeff Malet)
Sandra Lee Christiansen is an American television chef and author. She is known for her “Semi-Homemade” cooking concept. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Photographer Annie Leibovitz with Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, (photo by Jeff Malet)
Photographer Annie Leibovitz (photo by Jeff Malet)
Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Actor, comedian and television host of The Late Late Show, James Corden with his wife, Julia Carey. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Actress Mia Moretti (photo by Jeff Malet)
Fashion designer Prabal Gurung (photo by Jeff Malet)
Honorary Fashion Designer Prabal Gurung designed the outfits worn by some of the speakers. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Actress Kathy Bates (photo by Jeff Malet)
Kathy Bates (photo by Jeff Malet)
Honorary Fashion Designer Prabal Gurung designed the outfits worn by some of the speakers. In photo (left to right), Randi Charno Levine, Prabal Gurung and Kristin Cecchi. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy and wife Marcelle. (photo by Jeff Malet)
A photo of Lin-Manuel Miranda dressed in character from his Broadway smash “Hamilton” was one of the additions to the National Portrait Gallery collection. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Television personality Gayle King (photo by Jeff Malet)
Cesar Azabache and Darren Fewell of GUCCI (photo by Jeff Malet)
Chef Jos Andrs (photo by Jeff Malet)
Chef Jose Andres (photo by Jeff Malet)
Bret and Amy Baier. Baier is the host of Special Report with Bret Baier on the Fox News Channel and the chief political anchor for Fox. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Kim Sajet, Director of Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Will and Samar Langhorne (photo by Jeff Malet)
James Corden and his wife, Julia Carey; Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour; Photographer Annie Leibovitz. Photo by Jeff Malet.
Mike Northcott (photo by Jeff Malet)
(photo by Jeff Malet)
Shane Smith (photo by Jeff Malet)
Lori and Martin Weinstein. He is a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (photo by Jeff Malet)
Jayne and Kim Visser Jayne is the founder and CEO of ADEPTA, a political and government relations consulting firm. (photo by Jeff Malet)
David and Jamie Dorros. David is Vice Chairman at Cushman & Wakefield, Real Estate. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Chuck and Karen Ghoorah. Chuck Ghoorah is the co-founder and President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing at Cvent. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Joel Frushone Ashley Davis. Joel Frushone is the founder and president of Crescent Consultants, an international strategic relations firm headquartered in Washington, D.C. Ashley Davis, who was the first woman to lead the government relations arm of a major law firm, today oversees West Front Strategies, a multi-million dollar lobbying firm she helped found in 2015. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Amy Sherald is a painter based in Baltimore, Maryland. She is best known for her portrait paintings. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Switzerland Ambassador Jacques-H. Pitteloud and his wife Angelique. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Derek Thomas, Ernesto Abrego (photo by Jeff Malet)
Mario Rodríguez Graniel. Director, Client Relationship Management at Prada Group (photo by Jeff Malet)