• Barack Obama, White House Collection
    Robert McCurdy
    official portrait
    portraits
    paintings
    White House Collection
    This official portrait of President Barack Obama was painted by Robert McCurdy in 2018. Prior to his election to the presidency, Obama served as a United States senator from Illinois. On January 20, 2009, he became the first African American president and served two terms from 2009 to 2017. Both portraits of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were unveiled in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on September 7, 2022.
  • Michelle Obama, White House Collection
    Sharon Sprung
    official portrait
    paintings
    portraits
    White House Collection
    This official portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama was painted by Sharon Sprung in 2018. A Chicago native, Obama earned degrees from Princeton University and Harvard Law School. Her husband, Barack Obama, served as president from January 20, 2009 until January 20, 2017. As first lady, Michelle Obama pursued initiatives focused on childhood obesity and healthy eating, support for service members and their families, and opportunity in education. Both portraits of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were unveiled in a ceremony in the East Room of the White House on September 7, 2022.
  • President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
    Adam Schultz
    official portrait
    This official photograph of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. was taken in the Library of the White House on March 3, 2021 by White House photographer Adam Schultz. President Biden served as the senator from Delaware for 36 years as well as vice president to President Barack Obama from 2009-2017. President Biden was elected in 2020 and sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on January 20, 2021.
  • Jill Biden
    Cheriss May
    official portrait
    This portrait photograph of First Lady Dr. Jill Biden was taken by White House photographer Cheriss May in 2021, during President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.’s first months in office. Dr. Biden previously served as second lady of the United States from 2009-2017, during the Barack Obama administration. A long time educator, Dr. Biden earned a Master of Education from West Chester University, a Master of Arts in english from Villanova University, and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership from the University of Delaware.
  • Lady Bird Johnson, White House Collection
    Elizabeth Shoumatoff
    portraits
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    paintings
    This oil on canvas portrait of First Lady Lady Bird Johnson was painted by Elizabeth Shoumatoff. Mrs. Johnson graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in journalism. During her life prior to the White House, her business acumen meant she became the first First Lady to be a millionaire in her own right. As First Lady, she spearheaded beautification projects spanning cities and highways and initiated several firsts for her office. She was the first to have a press secretary and chief of staff, as well as the first to do a solo tour to campaign for major policy issues, such as the Civil Rights Act. Her husband, Lyndon Johnson, served as president from November 22, 1963 until January 20, 1969.
  • Abigail Adams
    Gilbert Stuart
    official portrait
    This portrait of Abigail Adams was done by Gilbert Stuart, who was one of the most well-known portrait artists of the time. She was the wife of President John Adams and the mother of President John Quincy Adams. She traveled to Europe with her husband as he served the new United States in France and Great Britain. Although possessed of no formal education, Abigail was an avid reader and took charge of her children's education when it was interrupted by the Revolutionary War. Despite her failing health, she was the first First Lady to preside over the White House in Washington, D.C.
  • Lou Henry Hoover, White House Collection
    Richard Marsden Brown
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    paintings
    This oil on canvas portrait of First Lady Lou Henry Hoover was painted by Richard Marsden Brown. Highly educated, Mrs. Hoover graduated Stanford University with a degree in geology. She was at the time the only woman in Stanford's geology program. Mrs. Hoover was active with the Girl Scouts of America, serving as the national president from 1922-1925 and 1935-1937. Her husband was president from March 4, 1929 until March 4, 1933. Bates Littlehales photographed the framed portrait in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.
  • Lou Henry Hoover, White House Collection
    Richard Marsden Brown
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    paintings
    This oil on canvas portrait of First Lady Lou Henry Hoover was painted by Richard Marsden Brown. Highly educated, Mrs. Hoover graduated Stanford University with a degree in geology. She was at the time the only woman in Stanford's geology program. Mrs. Hoover was active with the Girl Scouts of America, serving as the national president from 1922-1925 and 1935-1937. Her husband was president from March 4, 1929 until March 4, 1933. Bates Littlehales photographed the framed portrait in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.
  • Lou Henry Hoover, White House Collection
    Richard Marsden Brown
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    paintings
    This oil on canvas portrait of First Lady Lou Henry Hoover was painted by Richard Marsden Brown. Highly educated, Mrs. Hoover graduated Stanford University with a degree in geology. She was at the time the only woman in Stanford's geology program. Mrs. Hoover was active with the Girl Scouts of America, serving as the national president from 1922-1925 and 1935-1937. Her husband was president from March 4, 1929 until March 4, 1933. Bates Littlehales photographed the framed portrait in March 1962 during the John F. Kennedy administration.
  • Mamie Doud Eisenhower, White House Collection
    Thomas Edgar Stevens
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    portraits
    paintings
    This oil on canvas portrait of First Lady Mamie Eisenhower was painted by Thomas Edgar Stevens. As first lady, Mrs. Eisenhower was an active hostess and entertained more heads of state and leaders of foreign governments than her predecessors. Her husband served as president from January 20, 1953 until January 20, 1961.
  • Andrew Jackson by Ralph E. W. Earl, White House Collection
    Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    painting
    This portrait of President Andrew Jackson was painted ca. 1835 by Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl, sometimes referred to as Ralph E. W. Earl. Earl worked frequently with President Jackson, painting portraits of his friends and family including Jackson's niece Emily Tennessee Donelson, who served as White House hostess during Jackson's administration. Jackson was president from March 4, 1829 until March 4, 1837. He had served in the House of Representatives and the Senate prior to his time in the White House, but was most famous for his victories as a Major General in the War of 1812.
  • John Tyler, White House Collection
    G. P. A. Healy
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    This oil on canvas painting of President John Tyler was done by George Peter Alexander Healy. Healy was one of the most popular and prolific portraitists of the mid-nineteenth century. Tyler became president after President William Henry Harrison passed away from pneumonia a month into his presidency. Tyler was the first Vice President to become President without being elected to the office. He served out the remainder of Harrison's term, from 1841 to 1845. Prior to his roles in the executive branch, Tyler represented the State of Virginia in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate.
  • Martin Van Buren, White House Collection
    G. P. A. Healy
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    painting
    This oil on canvas painting of President Martin Van Buren was done by George Peter Alexander Healy. Healy was one of the most popular and prolific portraitists of the mid-nineteenth century. Prior to becoming president, Van Buren was the governor of New York and represented New York in the U.S. Senate. He was also the Vice President for President Andrew Jackson. His administration was from 1837 to 1841.
  • John Quincy Adams, White House Collection
    G. P. A. Healy
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    This oil on canvas painting of President John Quincy Adams was done by George Peter Alexander Healy. Healy was one of the most popular and prolific portraitists of the mid-nineteenth century. John Quincy Adams was the son of President John Adams and First Lady Abigail Adams. Prior to his presidency, Quincy Adams was a diplomat to the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia, and the United Kingdom. He served as Secretary of State under President James Monroe and is the only president who went on to serve in the House of Representatives after being president. Adams represented his home state, Massachusetts, in the House.
  • Warren G. Harding, White House Collection
    Edmund Hodgson Smart
    Official Portrait
    portraits
    White House Collection
    paintings
    This oil on canvas portrait of President Warren G. Harding was created by Edmund Hodgson Smart in 1923. Smart was an influential English painter who also painted portraits of other prominent officials, including Marshall Foch and Gen. John Pershing. Harding served as a United States Senator from Ohio from 1915 to 1921 prior to becoming president. He served from March 4, 1921 until his death on August 2, 1923.
  • Theodore Roosevelt, White House Collection
    John Singer Sargent
    portraits
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    paintings
    This portrait of Theodore Roosevelt was painted by renowned artist John Singer Sargent in 1903. Architect Charles McKim, who oversaw major renovations to the White House occurring at the time, invited Sargent to paint Roosevelt's portrait. Though the artist later complained that Roosevelt would agree to only short sittings, the president was very pleased with the end result. On February 19 he wrote in a letter to his son Kermit, noting that "This afternoon I had my last sitting with Mr. Sargent. I like his picture enormously." A former governor of New York, Roosevelt became president upon the assassination of William McKinley, on September 14, 1901 and served until March 4, 1909.
  • George Washington, White House Collection
    Gilbert Stuart
    portrait
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    painting
    This full-length portrait of George Washington was painted by Gilbert Stuart in 1797, the final year of his presidency. While other artists had depicted Washington as a military leader, Stuart became the first portraitist to paint an authoritative image of Washington as the country's first president. Washington holds a sword in his left hand, alluding to his past military service, but appears in civilian clothes, emphasizing the fact that he had resigned his commission as a military leader. A book entitled Constitution and Laws of the United States leans against the table leg. The portrait was installed in the White House in November 1800. During the War of 1812, First Lady Dolley Madison famously saved the portrait from near-certain demise. Before vacating the premises on August 24, 1814, Mrs. Madison ordered that official papers and the Washington portrait should be saved from British hands. The painting returned to the White House after it was rebuilt in 1817. Washington served as the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The first president was in office from April 30, 1789 until March 4, 1797.
  • William Jefferson Clinton
    Robert McNeely
    official portrait
    This photograph of President Bill Clinton, which served as one of his official portraits, was taken by Robert McNeely.
  • Michelle Obama
    Chuck Kennedy
    official portrait
    This portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama was taken by White House photographer Chuck Kennedy during President Barack Obama's second term, which began on January 20, 2013. Mrs. Obama holds degrees from Princeton University and a law degree from Harvard.
  • Woodrow Wilson, White House Collection
    F. Graham Cootes
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    paintings
    This portrait of President Woodrow Wilson was painted by Frank Graham Cootes, professionally known as F. Graham Cootes, and is Wilson's official presidential portrait. Wilson was president of his alma mater, Princeton University, from 1902-1910, when he was elected governor of New Jersey. He served as president from March 4, 1913 until March 4, 1921.
  • Ronald Wilson Reagan, White House Collection
    Everett Raymond Kinstler
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    paintings
    This oil on canvas portrait of President Ronald Reagan was painted by Everett Raymond Kinstler in 1991. Reagan served as governor of California from 1967-1975 and was president from January 20, 1981 until January 20, 1989. Kinstler began his career drawing comic books and illustrations for books and magazines before becoming a portraitist renowned for his paintings of famous entertainers, politicians, authors, and justices of the Supreme Court. Kinstler has painted portraits of Lady Bird Johnson, Betty Ford, Jimmy Carter, Richard M. Nixon, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. His portraits of Reagan, seen here, and Gerald R. Ford, are official presidential portraits.
  • Michelle Obama
    Joyce N. Boghosian
    official portrait
    This portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama was taken by White House photographer Joyce N. Boghosian during President Obama's first term, which began on January 20, 2009. Mrs. Obama holds degrees from Princeton University and a law degree from Harvard.
  • Lyndon B. Johnson, White House Collection
    Elizabeth Shoumatoff
    portraits
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    paintings
    This oil on canvas portrait of President Lyndon Johnson was painted by Elizabeth Shoumatoff. Johnson was vice president at the time of President Kennedy's assassination and became president upon Kennedy's death on November 22, 1963. He was then elected president in his own right in 1964 and served until January 20, 1969. His earlier career included serving in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, where he was the Majority Leader from 1955 until 1961.
  • Richard M. Nixon, White House Collection
    James Anthony Wills
    portraits
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    paintings
    This oil on canvas portrait of President Richard Nixon was painted by James Anthony Wills. Prior to being elected president, Nixon had a career as a lawyer, served on active duty with the U.S. Navy Reserves during World War II, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and then the Senate, and served as President Dwight Eisenhower's vice president. He was president from January 20, 1969 until August 9, 1974.
  • Jimmy Carter, White House Collection
    Herbert Abrams
    portraits
    official portrait
    White House Collection
    paintings
    This oil on canvas painting of Jimmy Carter was completed by renowned American portraitist Herbert Abrams in 1982 after Carter's presidency. The painting became Carter's official presidential portrait. This portrait was hung on a wall in the State Floor of the White House on March 17, 1983. Former President Carter requested that there be no ceremony. Carter served as governor of Georgia prior to his term as president, which began on January 20, 1977 and ended January 20, 1981.