21st-Century Portrait Commissions

In 2002, the House of Representatives began an initiative to identify noteworthy former Members with significant legislative achievements or symbolic importance in House history who did not fall into the limited categories of Representatives who traditionally had portraits painted—namely, Speakers of the House and committee chairs. Over the subsequent years, portrait commissions resulted in wider representation of historical Members of Congress and of more contemporary approaches to portraiture within the House Collection of Art and Artifacts. These commissioned portraits create a robust, inclusive, and lasting visual record of remarkable individuals spanning House history, U.S. geography, and political affiliation.

The Portraits

Patsy Takemoto Mink, oil on aluminum, Sharon Sprung, 2022

Trailblazing and seriousness of purpose marked Patsy Mink’s career in the House of Representatives. The first woman of color and first Asian-American woman elected to Congress, in 1964, Mink’s work led to significant changes in education in the United States, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which barred discrimination based on sex in institutions receiving federal funding; the early childhood education program Head Start; and the Women’s Educational Equity Act of 1974, which promoted gender equity in schools. The colors of the Pacific Ocean and abstractions of flora from her home state of Hawaii—heliconia, bird-of-paradise, and others—form the background of the portrait. The setting evokes Mink’s uniqueness at the outset of her 13-term career in the House—as a Representative from a recently admitted state, a Hawaiian and woman of color, and an activist.

Florence Prag Kahn, oil on canvas, Andre White, 2009

Florence Kahn, known for her effectiveness and sparkling wit, represented California in Congress from 1925 to 1937. Her service included several firsts: she was the first woman to sit on the Appropriations and Military Affairs Committees, as well as the first Jewish woman in Congress. She is shown in her portrait amidst the striking vistas of her San Francisco Bay–area district. Some of the results of her legislative work are incorporated into the landscape. While she served on the Appropriations Committee, the Golden Gate and Bay Bridges were prominent infrastructural projects. The ship crossing the bay behind her alludes to the Naval Air Depot Kahn secured for the area, which opened just before the United States entered World War II.

Shirley Anita Chisholm, oil on canvas, Kadir Nelson, 2008

Shirley Chisholm’s election to represent her Brooklyn, New York, district made her the first African-American woman in Congress when she was sworn in on January 3, 1969. Chisholm was known for her strong principles and willingness to stand up for them. While in Congress, she continued to blaze a trail, becoming the first Black woman—and second woman ever—to serve on the Rules Committee. Her boldness is emphasized in the portrait commemorating her service. Shown in a striking and stylish coat, she stands her ground before the Capitol. Nicknamed “Fighting Shirley,” the former educator earned her reputation from the beginning of her service, stating that she had “no intention of just sitting quietly and observing.”

View the other 21st-century portrait commissions: