Current Exhibitions

My Visit

Portrait of a Nation: 2025 Honorees

See the most recent recipients of the Portrait of a Nation Awards, which honors extraordinary individuals who have made transformative contributions to the United States and its people.

December 12, 2025 – November 15, 2026

Portrait Gallery
My Visit

Added to My Visit Removed from My Visit

American Winners: Athletes and Entertainers Who Shaped the Nation Added

~~American Winners: Athletes and Entertainers Who Shaped the Nation~~ Removed

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American Winners: Athletes and Entertainers Who Shaped the Nation

This exhibition salutes a diverse array of athletes and entertainers by presenting more than ﬁfty works from the permanent collection.

September 26, 2025 – September 7, 2026

Portrait Gallery
My Visit

Added to My Visit Removed from My Visit

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 14, 2026

Portrait Gallery
My Visit

Added to My Visit Removed from My Visit

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

Added to My Visit Removed from My Visit

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 25, 2026

Portrait Gallery
My Visit

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 – August 9, 2026

Portrait Gallery
My Visit

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
My Visit

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

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
My Visit

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
My Visit

Twentieth-Century Americans

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

July 1, 2006 – Permanent

Portrait Gallery
My Visit

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