The History of Diverse Artists in the White House Collection Virtual Symposium

The White House Historical Association will host a brief, two-panel symposium on "The History of Diverse Artists in the White House Collection" on Tuesday, December 1, at 10:00am EST. The first panel will highlight the women and artists of color who are represented in the White House Collection.

In partnership with the Japan Society and Portland Japanese Garden, the second panel will highlight Isamu Noguchi's 1962 bronze sculpture Floor Frame, which was selected by First Lady Melania Trump and acquired with support from the White House Historical Association. The sculpture was installed at the east end of the Rose Garden on November 20, 2020.

Panel One: The history, presence, and importance of diverse artists in the White House Collection

• Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw, Senior Historian and Director of Research, Publications and Scholarly Programs, Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery
• Nikki Pisha, Associate Curator of Fine Arts, Office of the Curator at the White House
• Lina Mann, Historian, White House Historical Association
• Moderator: Dr. Matthew Costello, Vice President of the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History, White House Historical Association

This session will be followed by two presentations. The first is with Timothy Harleth, Chief Usher of the White House, and Nikki Pisha from the Rose Garden. The second is of First Lady Melania Trump’s remarks at the unveiling ceremony.

Panel Two: Isamu Noguchi as an artist, connector of Japan and American culture, and the addition of Floor Frame to the White House Collection

• Dakin Hart, Senior Curator, Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum
• Yukie Kamiya, Gallery Director, Japan Society
• Akihito Nakanishi, Arlene Schnitzer Curator of Culture, Art, and Education, Portland Japanese Garden
• Moderator: Dr. Joshua Walker, President & CEO, Japan Society

This event will be streamed on the White House Historical Association's Facebook and YouTube pages starting at 10 am ET on December 1st.