Note: All submitted events must be approved before they appear in the calendar.
Writing Workshop Inspired by Early 20th-Century Portraiture
Friday, April 14, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
G Street Lobby
In this creative writing workshop, participants will write stories inspired by the National Portrait Gallery’s collection of early 20th-century portraiture, with a focus on the recently acquired portrait of the Osage leader Shonke Mon thi^. Using guided writing prompts, reading, discussion and imagination, participants will develop stories that weave together history and culture. Open to writers of all levels who are 18+. Free – Registration required.
Curator Tour of Out of Many with Robyn Asleson
Sunday, April 23, 3 – 4 p.m.
First Floor South, East EntranceCome and see the refreshed exhibition “Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900,” which reopened in summer 2022. Curator of Prints and Drawings Robyn Asleson will discuss the process of reinvigorating the galleries. Free – No registration required. Transformations by Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance CompanySunday, May 14, 2 p.m. & 5 p.m. McEvoy Auditorium The National Portrait Gallery’s resident choreographer, Dana Tai Soon Burgess, concludes his residency with a new modern dance entitled “Transformations.” Performed by seven dancers, the 30-minute abstract piece is inspired by the work of the Transcendental Painting Group, active in Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1938–1942. Pianist Dana Scott will perform an accompanying composition by Dane Rudhyar. Patricia Michaels, a leading fashion designer with Taos Pueblo roots, created the costumes. Free. Seating is limited to first come, first served. Curator Tour of 1898: U.S. Imperial Visions and Revisions
Sunday, May 21, 3 – 4 p.m.
Second Floor West Galleries
Join Taína Caragol, curator of painting, sculpture & Latino art and history, and Kate Lemay, historian, for a tour of “1898: U.S. Imperial Visions and Revisions.” Through portraiture and visual culture, this exhibition tells the history of this eventful year and its complex legacy. Free – No registration required. Writing Workshop Inspired by I Dream a World Tuesday, May 23, 5 – 7 p.m. G Street Lobby
This creative writing workshop will explore the lives of the extraordinary women featured in “I Dream a World: Selections from Brian Lanker’s Portraits of Remarkable Black Women.” Using guided writing exercises, participants will pay tribute to pioneers such as Althea Gibson, Odetta, Cicely Tyson and Oprah Winfrey, reflecting on the ways they have shaped American culture while fighting for social justice and civil rights. Open to writers of all levels who are 18+. Free – Registration required.
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Virtual Programs, March – May
Drawn to Figures
Thursdays, March 2 & 30, April 13 & 27, May 4 & 25
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Online via Zoom
Discover your inner artist in this virtual drawing workshop. Facilitated by artist Jill Galloway, the it will include guided instruction on the techniques and challenges of figure drawing. Each session will highlight portraits from the National Portrait Gallery’s collection or related themes. Open to all skill levels, ages 18+. Free – Registration required.
Virtual Writing Hour with the National Portrait Gallery
Select Tuesdays, March 7 & 21, April 11, May 2 & 16, 5 – 6 p.m.
Online via Zoom
Join a virtual creative writing hour with the National Portrait Gallery! We’ve set up a virtual space in which writers can create, connect and draw inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collection. Bring your own happy hour beverage and write with us. We will provide writing prompts, but participants are also invited to bring their own writing project-in-progress. After writing for 30 minutes, we will end each session with a brief discussion or reading. Free – Registration required.
Virtual Young Portrait Explorers
Wednesdays, March 8 & 22, April 12 & 26, May 10 & 24
11 – 11:30 a.m.
Online via Zoom
Join our interactive virtual workshop for children ages 3-6 and their adult companions to explore portraiture, history and culture. This thirty-minute program incorporates close looking at art, movement and creativity. Learn new stories about changemakers, ranging from astronauts to activists, presidents to painters! 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.
