Serena & Venus Honored by National Portrait Gallery

Venus and Serena Williams are about to become permanent fixtures in Washington DC. The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has announced its annual Portrait of a Nation Award honorees, and the two tennis champions, with a combined 30 Grand Slam singles titles to their names, are amongst the 7 names, which include Dr. Anthony Fauci, music producer Clive Davis, and filmmaker Ava DuVernay.

‘The Portrait of a Nation Award is an expression of gratitude for the leaders in our country who have made a difference and continue to advocate for a better future,’ announced Kim Sajet, the Director of the National Portrait Gallery. ‘These honorees are innovators in their respective disciplines and advocates for social causes who use their voices to care for and lift up others.’

The official invitation-only ceremony will be held on November 12, where each honoree will receive the award from a presenter of their choice. Lucky attendees also get a private viewing of the museum’s ‘Recent Acquisitions’ exhibition, where the 7 award recipients’ portraits, commisonned by various contemporary artists, will be unveiled. No word yet on the artists chosen to paint Venus and Serena, but if the sisters’ penchant for statement-making is any indication, one can only hope their portraits will follow suit.

Image credit: National Portrait Gallery