November 12, 2022: A Star-Studded Evening

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and its Director Kim Sajet welcomed more than 750 stars and luminaries from across the country to the nation’s capital for the 2022 Portrait of a Nation Gala, honoring seven remarkable individuals for their transformative contributions to the United States and its people.


Dr. Anthony Fauci 


Ava DuVernay


Serena Williams


Venus Williams


Clive Davis


José Andrés


Marian Wright Edelman with granddaughters, Ellika and Zoe


Sec. Hillary Clinton presents Marian Wright Edelman with the Portrait Of a Nation Award


Honorees    

José Andrés    
Clive Davis    
Ava DuVernay    
Marian Wright Edelman    
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.    
Serena Williams    
Venus Williams    

    Presenters

    Laurene Powell Jobs
    Alicia Keys
    Isabel Wilkerson
    Sec. Hillary Rodham Clinton                      
    David M. Rubenstein
    Mellody Hobson
    Sonya Haffey & Isha Price

Host

Baratunde Thurston


headshots of honorees

The 2022 Portrait of a Nation Gala raised $3 million to strengthen the museum’s endowment, to support its mission to tell the dynamic and multifaceted story of the United States of America.

Portrait of a Nation Award

The Portrait of a Nation Award is awarded to individuals selected from the illustrious roster of contemporary Americans whose portraits reside in the National Portrait Gallery’s collection. Recipients have made significant contributions across diverse fields and have demonstrated a significant commitment to service, and the values of creativity, individuality, insight, and inquiry.

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View more photos and highlights from the 2022 Portrait of a Nation Gala here

Photo Credits:
José Andrés: photo by Josh Telles; Clive Davis: Photo by Fadil Berisha; Ava DuVernay: photo courtesy of ARRAY; Marian Wright Edelman: photo by Biljana B. Milenkovic, Courtesy of the Children’s Defense Fund; Anthony S. Fauci, M.D: Courtesy of NIAID/NIH; Serena Williams: © Paton Antoniou/Trunk Archive; Venus Williams: photo by Laura Metzler Photography.