Archive Mode. Call Museum of Fine Arts, Boston: Portraits of Leadership ended on 7/29/22, 10:00 PM. Call settings are read only. See Current Open Calls

Make a portrait of a leader in your life and see it on view at the MFA

Share your own portraits of leadership with us, and we’ll put them on display alongside our exhibition of the Obama paintings this September. Whoever the leaders are in your life—family members or friends; mentors, teachers, or coaches—we want to see them all! We welcome original submissions from all ages on five-by-seven-inch paper. Whether a drawing, painting, watercolor, or photograph, your distinct vision will have a special place at the MFA this fall—and help form a larger portrait of leadership in our community.

This exhibition is inspired by the portraits of President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald. Unlike earlier images of presidents and first ladies, the paintings break barriers, paving the way for new artistic visions. Wiley’s and Sherald’s pictures are at once extraordinary and approachable—making space for people of color and allowing audiences to see themselves in President Obama and the former First Lady.

How to Submit Your Portrait Online

1. Click on “Register & Apply” to create an account on artcall.org. This account will not be associated with any existing usernames and passwords for mfa.org.
2. Click on “Add New Application.”
3. Upload your submission as a JPEG attachment. We recommend uploading artworks at a resolution of 300 dpi. Up to 20 artworks are welcome per user.

We are committed to protecting your privacy. Only authorized employees from Art Call and the MFA will use any information collected from individuals. After submission, you may receive e-mail from Art Call or the MFA.