Portraits, Inc.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Commissioned portrait art |
| Founded | 1942 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Lois Shaw |
| Headquarters | Birmingham, Alabama , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Beverly B. McNeil, Julia G. Baughman, Ruth Reeves |
| Products | Custom oil paintings, bronze sculptures |
| Owner | Women-owned business |
| Website | www |
Portraits, Inc., established in 1942 by Lois Shaw and based in Birmingham, Alabama, holds the distinction of being the oldest and largest company specializing in commissioned portrait art globally. The firm focuses on creating custom oil paintings and bronze sculptures, representing a roster of over 100 contemporary portrait artists. As a women-owned enterprise for more than eight decades, Portraits, Inc. operates through a network of skilled associates throughout the United States.
Among its prestigious commissions are portraits of figures such as Condoleezza Rice, General George W. Casey, Jr., Governor Nikki Haley, Michael Chertoff, General Martin E. Dempsey, along with several other notable officials within the U.S. government. This distinguished clientele underscores Portraits, Inc.’s significant influence and competitive positioning within the commissioned portraiture market.
New York
The inception of Portraits, Inc. took place in New York City in 1942, founded by Lois Shaw, who was an art dealer and socialite with expertise in antiques. The idea emerged from a collaboration between Shaw and the USO during the early 1940s, when Shaw organized weekly studio gatherings at her Park Avenue gallery. During these events, guest portrait artists sketched military personnel whose portraits were then matted and sent to their families. At that time, New York lacked galleries exclusively dedicated to fine portraiture. Initially, Shaw created "The Portrait Painters' Clearing House," which eventually evolved into Portraits, Inc. later that year. Key figures such as Helen Appleton Read, who served as gallery director and subsequently president, alongside Andrea Ericson, also a gallery director, played pivotal roles in revitalizing the popularity of portraiture across the United States.
Birmingham and Flat Rock
In 2008, Beverly B. McNeil and Julia G. Baughman acquired Portraits, Inc. McNeil, who owned Portrait Brokers of America in Birmingham, Alabama, consolidated both businesses under the Portraits, Inc. name. Two years later, Ruth Reeves joined as a partner by integrating The Portrait Source from Flat Rock, North Carolina into the company. This strategic merger broadened Portraits, Inc.’s regional footprint and enhanced its growth trajectory by combining expertise and client bases.
Artists
For over eighty years, Portraits, Inc. has championed the portrait painting field by representing esteemed artists such as Andrew Wyeth, Henrietta Wyeth, Albert Murray, Robert Brackman, John Koch, Sidney Dickinson, Aaron Shikler, Marshall Bouldin III, and Nelson Shanks. Presently, the agency represents more than one hundred portrait artists both nationally and internationally. Prominent contemporary painters associated with the firm include Daniel E. Greene, Everett Raymond Kinstler, John Howard Sanden, Burton Silverman, Michael Shane Neal, Ned Bittinger, Sharon Sprung, and Jean-Denis Maillart. Additionally, twelve artists maintain exclusive representation agreements with Portraits, Inc., including David Goatley, Carol Baxter Kirby, Liz Lindstrom, Teresa Mattos, Dawn Whitelaw, Andrew Gow, Scott Woolever, Mary Qian, Grace DeVito, Katherine Buchanan, Glenda Brown, and Jennifer R. Welty.
Scholarship Foundation
Founded in 2001, the Portraits, Inc. Scholarship Foundation annually awards university scholarships to the descendants of agency portrait artists. This foundation pays tribute to Lifetime Achievement Award recipients by offering eight distinct scholarships designed to nurture promising talent in the field of portrait painting.
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