Elaine De Kooning News

Have you ever wanted to see the portraits on our walls come to life? Well, now you can! Teens from Washington, D.C. -- working at the National Portrait Gallery through the 2015 Mayor Marion Barry Summer Youth Employment Program -- lead a theatrical tour that brings the Portrait Gallery's collection to life through an original, student-written play. The memorable journey will take you to a variety of portraits, as the students perform biographical portrayals of the people represented. Meet in the F Street lobby.

You might know her husband's paintings, but have you ever heard of Elaine de Kooning? Come learn about the works of de Kooning, whose abstract and figurative paintings and drawings exemplify the height of Abstract Expressionism in New York City. Join Brandon Fortune, chief curator of the National Portrait Gallery, as she leads you on a tour through the works of 'Elaine de Kooning: Portraits.' Following the tour, Fortune will sign copies of the fully illustrated publication that accompanies the show. Meet in 'Elaine de Kooning: Portraits,' by the west stair tower, second floor. 

You might know her husband's paintings, but have you ever heard of Elaine de Kooning? Come learn about the works of de Kooning, whose abstract and figurative paintings and drawings exemplify the height of Abstract Expressionism in New York City. Join Brandon Fortune, chief curator of the National Portrait Gallery, as she leads you on a tour through the works of 'Elaine de Kooning: Portraits.' Following the tour, Fortune will sign copies of the fully illustrated publication that accompanies the show. Meet in 'Elaine de Kooning: Portraits,' by the west stair tower, second floor. 

Below are April's events at the National Portrait Gallery. For more information, visit their website.

In “Elaine de Kooning: Portraits,” the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery will display a major retrospective of the artist's work in portraiture. Elaine de Kooning (1918–1989) created abstract and figurative paintings and drawings in New York City during the height of the Abstract Expressionist movement following World War II. The exhibition will include 66 of her works; it will be open March 13 through Jan. 10, 2016.

Elaine de Kooning made both abstract and figurative paintings and drawings during the height of Abstract Expressionism in New York City. Fairfield Porter once commented that de Kooning's images of men, for which she is best known, were “both sympathetic and frighteningly acute.” De Kooning's gestural portraits of friends and family were much admired during her lifetime and included such well-known Americans as President John F. Kennedy, poets Frank O'Hara and Allen Ginsberg, critic Harold Rosenberg, choreographer Merce Cunningham and painters Willem de Kooning and Fairfield Porter. In her portraits, Elaine de Kooning sought the “instantaneous illumination” of recognition and worked to capture that moment. She characterized her portraits of John F. Kennedy as “a glimpse” of the president through an accumulation of sketches and finished likenesses.

The Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMCM+AC) celebrates the completion of the first phase of its renovation and expansion in downtown Asheville with the presentation of poemumbles: 30 years of Susan Weil's poem/images. Curated by Brian E. Butler, University of North Carolina Asheville Thomas Howerton Distinguished Professor of the Humanities, and Rachael Inch, Susan Weil Studio archivist and administrator, the exhibition is on view January 30 - May 23, and is accompanied by a roster of public programs. The exhibition includes over 60 of Weil's poemumbles made between 1984 and 2014. Additionally, several of her notebooks will be on display to provide a deeper look into her artistic process.

The Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center (BMCM+AC) celebrates the completion of the first phase of its renovation and expansion in downtown Asheville with the presentation of poemumbles: 30 years of Susan Weil's poem/images. Curated by Brian E. Butler, University of North Carolina Asheville Thomas Howerton Distinguished Professor of the Humanities, and Rachael Inch, Susan Weil Studio archivist and administrator, the exhibition is on view January 30 - May 23, and is accompanied by a roster of public programs. The exhibition includes over 60 of Weil's poemumbles made between 1984 and 2014. Additionally, several of her notebooks will be on display to provide a deeper look into her artistic process.

In “Elaine de Kooning: Portraits,” the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery will display a major retrospective of the artist's work in portraiture. Elaine de Kooning (1918–1989) created abstract and figurative paintings and drawings in New York City during the height of the Abstract Expressionist movement following World War II. The exhibition will include 66 of her works; it will be open March 13 through Jan. 10, 2016.

National Portrait Gallery presents its November and December Calendar of Events, Programs and Exhibitions. All events are held at the National Portrait Gallery, located at Eighth and F streets, N.W., Washington, D.C., and are free unless otherwise noted. For information, call (202) 633-1000 or visit npg.si.edu. The National Portrait Gallery is open every day from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., except Dec. 25.

'Face Value: Portraiture in the Age of Abstraction' will feature mid-20th century artists who were reinventing portraiture at a moment when almost everyone agreed that figuration was dead as a progressive art form. The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery has gathered more than 50 paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture from approximately 1945 to 1975 to demonstrate the innovations of American portraiture despite the vogue for abstraction. The exhibition opens today, April 18 and runs through Jan. 11, 2015.

“Face Value: Portraiture in the Age of Abstraction” will feature mid-20th century artists who were reinventing portraiture at a time when most agreed that figuration was dead as a progressive art form.

“Face Value: Portraiture in the Age of Abstraction” will feature mid-20th century artists who were reinventing portraiture at a moment when almost everyone agreed that figuration was dead as a progressive art form. The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery has gathered more than 50 paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture from approximately 1945 to 1975 to demonstrate the innovations of American portraiture despite the vogue for abstraction. The exhibition opens April 18 and runs through Jan. 11, 2015.

On Sunday, January 12, 2014 Kaminski Auctions of Beverly, Massachusetts held a high quality 20th Century Modern Design auction. The sale achieved an approximate sell-through rate of seventy percent, while displaying a steady rhythm of strong hammer prices. Bidders showed great enthusiasm on the floor, on the phones and particularly through several online bidding platforms.