Note: All submitted events must be approved before they appear in the calendar.
Weekend Workshops
Select Saturdays, Dec. 3, 10 & 17, Jan. 7, 14, 21 & 28, Feb. 4, 11 & 25
11:30 a.m.–noon
Select Sundays, Dec. 4, 11 & 18, Jan. 8, 15, 22 & 29, Feb. 5, 12, 19 & 26
11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
Education Center, E151
Calling all artists! Get creative during our free drop-in workshops for all ages. Learn about artists and changemakers and create art inspired by their stories.In Conversation with Maya Lin
Thursday, Dec. 8, 5–6 p.m.
McEvoy Auditorium
Join us for a conversation about artist, architect and environmentalist Maya Lin and National Portrait Gallery Curator Dorothy Moss. On the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lin will reflect on her life and ongoing work, and how her early experiences as a child growing up in rural Ohio shaped her relationship with and commitment to the natural world. Free—Registration required.Writing Workshop Inspired by I Dream a World
Friday, Dec. 9, 10 a.m.–noon
G Street lobby
Imagine if you could speak with Maya Angelou or Septima Poinsette Clark — what would you ask these extraordinary women? In this poetry writing workshop, we will celebrate and honor the lives and work of the African American women featured in “I Dream a World: Selections from Brian Lanker’s Portraits of Remarkable Black Women.” Using guided poetry writing exercises, we will explore, discover and pay tribute while imagining a new world together. Open to writers of all levels, ages 18+. Free—Registration required.Young Portrait Explorers
Select Mondays, Dec. 12, Jan. 9 & Feb. 13, 11 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
G Street lobby
Join us at the museum for an engaging program about art, history and storytelling. For children up to age six and their adult companions. Free—Registration required.Drawing with the Portrait Gallery
Select Thursdays, Dec. 15, Jan. 19 & Feb. 16, 10 a.m.–noon
G Street lobby
In this series of drawing workshops, artist Jill Galloway leads participants through the techniques and challenges of figure drawing. Each session highlights portraits from a Portrait Gallery exhibition and includes instruction, a guided drawing session and all supplies. Open to artists of all levels, ages 18+. Space is limited. Free—Registration required.In Focus: Kinship over the Centuries
Thursday, Dec. 15, 12:30–1 p.m.
G Street lobby
Join Portrait Gallery Editor Sarah McGavran to explore how kinship has changed—and stayed the same—over the centuries. We will look closely at a historical photograph from “Powerful Partnerships: Civil War-Era Couples” and a contemporary portrait of an artist’s spouse from “Kinship.”Curator Tour of Block by Block: Naming Washington
Sunday, Dec. 18, 3–4 p.m.
Meet on the second floor, in the Rotunda, outside the Riley Gallery
Take a tour of the National Portrait Gallery’s exhibition “Block by Block: Naming Washington” with Leslie Ureña, curator of photographs. Learn how buildings, streets and parks have been named throughout the history of our nation’s capital.Art Pop: Passage with Khánh H. Lê
Tuesday, Dec. 20, 5–7 p.m.
Kogod Courtyard
Join the Portrait Gallery for a sip-and-craft pop-up in the museum’s courtyard. Facilitated by artist Khánh H. Lê, this program will encourage both non-artists and creatives alike to find sources of inspiration in art and crafting. Learn about Lê’s portrait of his grandmother in “The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today,” and reflect on your own self-journey by creating a piece that combines images from family albums, magazines and digital photographs with plastic jewels.* Payment for the program includes two drink tickets for wine, beer and/or a craft drink from the museum’s café. All materials and supplies are included. Registration required. Fee: $20.
*Bring digital photographs and images from your family albums or other troves to have scanned during the program to create a self-portrait.Curator Tour of Kinship by Taína Caragol
Sunday, Jan. 8, 3–4 p.m.
Meet at the exhibition entrance near the F Street information desk
Join Taína Caragol, curator of painting and sculpture and Latino art and history, for a lively discussion of Ruth Leonela Buentello’s work in the “Kinship” exhibition.Writing Workshop Inspired by The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today
Friday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m.–noon
G Street lobby
How do you draw readers into a story? It’s all in the details! Readers want to touch, feel, see, smell and hear as they immerse themselves in a new world. In this fiction writing workshop, practice using all your senses to convey vivid settings, relatable characters and the essence of real life. We will draw inspiration from “The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today” and discuss how the artists use physical and emotional textures in their work to draw viewers into the visual narrative. This fun, interactive workshop is open to writers of all levels, ages 18+. Free—Registration required.Our Struggle for Justice: A Day of Action
Sunday, Jan. 22, 1–4 p.m.
Kogod Courtyard
Together with our partner Made by Us, commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday while honoring his social justice work and service. Be empowered and inspired by local social justice partner organizations and community groups during this day of community building, upliftment and action for young adults. Become more actively involved in important causes, hear enightening talks and attend tours of the permanent exhibition “The Struggle for Justice.” Enjoy a meet and greet with DC activists and partake in art activism activities. The event will conclude with a post-reception. Sponsored by Capital One.Curator Tour of Kinship by Leslie Ureña
Sunday, Jan. 22, 3–4 p.m.
Meet at the exhibition entrance near the F Street information desk
Join Leslie Ureña, curator of photographs, for a tour and discussion of the Portrait Gallery’s exhibition “Kinship.”Art Pop: Self-Representation and Revelation with Artist Stuart Robertson
Tuesday, Jan. 23, 5–7 p.m.
Kogod Courtyard
Join the Portrait Gallery for a sip-and-craft pop-up in the museum’s courtyard. Facilitated by artist Stuart Robertson, this program will encourage both non-artists and creatives alike to find sources of inspiration in art and crafting. Referencing Robertson’s self-portrait in “The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today,” learn how to evoke personality and physical traits while creating a portrait using aluminum, cardboard and collage.
The program fee includes two drink tickets for wine, beer, and/or a craft drink from the museum’s café. All materials and supplies are included. Registration required. Fee: $20.Exploring Bicultural Identity: Teacher Workshop
Tuesday, Jan. 24, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
G Street lobby
How is bicultural identity expressed through portraiture? Through portraits from the “One Life: Maya Lin” as well as select works from the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, we will meet bicultural individuals who tell their stories through the lens of two cultures. By examining their portraits, we will glimpse how one’s identity can be reconciled, forged and defined while gaining some insight into the experiences of our bicultural students. Free—Registration required.Curator Tour of Kinship by Dorothy Moss
Sunday, Jan. 29, 3–4 p.m.
Meet at the exhibition entrance near the F Street information desk
Join Dorothy Moss, curator of painting and sculpture, for a tour and discussion of the Portrait Gallery’s exhibition “Kinship.”Curator Tour of Kinship by Charlotte Ickes
Sunday, Feb. 5, noon–1 p.m.
Meet at the exhibition entrance near the F Street information desk
Join Charlotte Ickes, curator of time-based media art and special projects, for a discussion on the Portrait Gallery’s exhibition “Kinship.”Art AfterWords: A Book Discussion
Thursday, Feb. 9, 5:30–7 p.m.
G Street lobby
The National Portrait Gallery and the DC Public Library would like to invite you to a robust conversation about gender, social movements and protest music. Join us as we analyze a portrait of human rights activist and musician Odetta and discuss the related Smithsonian Folkways recording “Voices of the Civil Rights Movement: Black American Freedom Songs 1960–1966,” by various artists.
The full album is available to stream through the DC Public Library’s subscription to Smithsonian Global Sound for Libraries by Alexander Street Press. Patrons can access these resources with a DC Public Library card. Selections from the compilation are also available through the Smithsonian Folkways YouTube channel. Free—Registration required. Writing Workshop Inspired by One Life: Maya Lin
Friday, Feb. 10, 10 a.m.–noon
G Street lobby
As a writer, how do you honor the people you most cherish? How do you pay tribute to your ancestors? In this creative writing workshop, we will draw inspiration from the “One Life: Maya Lin” exhibition, a survey of the architect, sculptor and environmentalist’s life and work, to explore our own personal histories in connection with our families or chosen communities. The work will incorporate techniques focused on memoir writing and personal reflection. Open to writers of all levels, ages 18+. Free—Registration required.Curator Tour of The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today by Taína Caragol
Sunday, Feb. 12, 3–4 p.m.
Meet on the second floor, outside the east entrance to the Outwin exhibition
Join Taína Caragol, curator of painting and sculpture and Latino art and history, for a tour of “The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today” before the exhibition closes! The tour will feature the work of several artists in the exhibition.Presidential Family Fun Day
Saturday, Feb. 18, 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.
Kogod Courtyard
Celebrate President’s Day and all things presidential at the National Portrait Gallery’s annual Presidential Family Fun Day! This year we celebrate Honest Abe (a.k.a. Abraham Lincoln) with art activities, spotlight tours and more.Curator Tour of The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today by Leslie Ureña
Sunday, Feb. 26, 3–4 p.m.
Meet on the second floor, outside the east entrance to the Outwin exhibition
Join Leslie Ureña, curator of photographs, for a tour of “The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today” before the exhibition closes! A wide variety of portraits from contemporary artists and the triennial competition will be discussed.
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Virtual Programs, December – February
The National Portrait Gallery is proud to host some of its many public programs online. Our digital workshops range from story time readings for young children to art-making workshops for all ages.Virtual Writing Hour with the National Portrait Gallery
Select Tuesdays, Dec. 6 & 13, Jan. 10 & 24, Feb. 7 & 21
5–6 p.m.
Online via Zoom
Join us for an online, creative writing hour at the National Portrait Gallery! We’ve set up a virtual space where writers can create, connect and draw inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collection. Bring your happy hour beverage of choice and write with us. We will provide writing prompts, and attendees are also welcome to bring their own writing project-in-progress. We will write for about 30 minutes and end each session with a brief discussion or reading. Free—Registration required.Perspectives: The Atlantic’s Writers at the National Portrait Gallery Teacher Workshop
Tuesday, Dec. 6, 5–6 p.m.
Online via Zoom
As educators, how can we encourage our students to connect the past to the present? In this workshop, we’ll consider this question through the lens of past and current writers from The Atlantic. Through portraiture, biography and interpretation, “Perspectives: The Atlantic’s Writers at the National Portrait Gallery” highlights individuals who have helped shape the nation’s trajectory by fighting for abolition, civil rights and social justice. We’ll examine how contemporary Atlantic writers reflect on the lives and legacies of historical influencers (such as Louisa May Alcott, Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington) as well as more recent figures (such as Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis). Free—Registration required.Drawing with the Portrait Gallery
Select Thursdays, Dec. 8 & 22, Jan. 12 & 26, Feb. 9 & 23
11 a.m.–noon
Online via Zoom
Discover your inner artist in this virtual drawing workshop. Facilitated by artist Jill Galloway, the workshop will include guided instruction on the techniques and challenges of figure drawing. Each program will highlight themes and portraits from the National Portrait Gallery’s collection. Open to all skill levels, ages 18+. Free—Registration required.In Dialogue: Smithsonian Objects and Social Justice
Thursday, Dec. 8, 5–6 p.m.
Online via Zoom
Heighten your civic awareness through conversations about art, history and material culture. Each month, educators from the National Portrait Gallery will partner with colleagues from across the Smithsonian to discuss how historical objects from their respective collections speak to today’s social justice issues.
How do ongoing environmental efforts inspire us to engage and act in our communities and beyond? Together with our co-hosts from the National Postal Museum, we will explore this key question in relation to a 1934 stamp from the Federal Duck Stamp Program and a 2019 portrait of marine biologist Julie Packard by artist Hope Gangloff. Free––Registration required.Young Portrait Explorers
Select Wednesdays, Dec. 14, Jan. 11 & 25, Feb. 8 & 22
11–11:30 a.m.
Online via Zoom
Join our virtual workshop for children ages 3-6 and their adult companions in a 30-minute program that incorporates close looking at art, movement and art-making. Free—Registration required.Exploring Bicultural Identity: Teacher Workshop
Tuesday, Jan. 31, 5–6 p.m.
Online via Zoom
How is bicultural identity expressed through portraiture? Through portraits from “One Life: Maya Lin” as well as select works from the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, we will meet bicultural individuals who tell their stories through the lens of two cultures. By examining their portraits, we will glimpse how one’s identity can be reconciled, forged and defined while gaining some insight into the experiences of our bicultural students. Free—Registration required.Portraits of Resistance: Activating Art During Slavery
Tuesday, Jan. 31, 5–6 p.m.
Online via Zoom
To help usher in the upcoming “One Life: Frederick Douglass” exhibition (on view from June 16, 2023 through April 21, 2024), this conversation between Adrienne Childs, adjunct curator at the Phillips Collection; John Stauffer, the Sumner R. and Marshall S. Kates Professor of English and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University; and Jennifer Van Horn, associate professor of art History and history at the University of Delaware, will consider the connections between portraits, biography, Black ornamentalism and enslavement in the 18th and 19th centuries. Moderated by Kate Clarke Lemay, acting senior historian at the National Portrait Gallery, this program is hosted by PORTAL, the Portrait Gallery’s Scholarly Center, and is part of the Greenberg Steinhauser Forum in American Portraiture. Free—Registration required.Engaging Young Learners with Portraiture: Teacher Workshop
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 5–6 p.m.
Online via Zoom
Join educators from the Portrait Gallery as they model teaching techniques for young learners, pre-K through second grade, in a workshop that features artworks from the special exhibition “The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today.” Explore tools that foster visual literacy and engage young learners with ideas of identity and representation. Educators will leave with ready-to-use activities and museum resources. Free—Registration required.In Dialogue: Smithsonian Objects and Social Justice
Thursday, Feb. 9, 5–6 p.m.
Online via Zoom
Heighten your civic awareness through conversations about art, history and material culture. Each month, educators from the National Portrait Gallery will partner with colleagues from across the Smithsonian to discuss how historical objects from their respective collections speak to today’s social justice issues.
How does a community sustain well-being in the face of systemic inequity? Together with our co-hosts from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, we will explore this key question in relationship to a 1946 artwork, “Can Fire in the Park” by Beauford Delaney, and LaToya Ruby Frazier’s photographs, which featured in the exhibition “Kinship” and document the impact of the water crisis on the citizens of Flint, MI. Free—Registration required.National Portrait Gallery
The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery tells the multifaceted story of the United States through the individuals who have shaped American culture. Spanning 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 nation’s story.
The National Portrait Gallery is located at Eighth and G streets N.W., Washington, D.C. Smithsonian Information: (202) 633-1000. Connect with the museum at npg.si.edu and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
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