Oprah Winfrey’s portrait joins those of other remarkable American women

An artist’s rendering of Oprah Winfrey, who rose from poverty to become a world-renowned talk show host and philanthropist, is now enshrined in the National Portrait Gallery, the Washington museum that showcases famous Americans.

Born in rural Mississippi, and a graduate of historically Black college and university (HBCU) Tennessee State University, Winfrey interviewed some 37,000 people during her daytime TV talk show’s 25-year run.

“Through her rise to fame as host and producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah demonstrated an unparalleled ability to connect with people and inspire them to become the best versions of themselves,” National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet said in a statement released at the December 13 unveiling of Winfrey’s 2-meter portrait, painted by Chicago-based artist Shawn Michael Warren.

Winfrey, the first African American woman to own a production company, has donated $500 million to various causes, including a school for girls in South Africa. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor, in 2013.

At the gallery ceremony, she marveled at having her portrait appear in the museum that houses those of American icons, including Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. The National Portrait Gallery features numerous other remarkable American women. Here are a few examples.

Julie Packard

For 50 years marine biologist Julie Packard has fought to protect the world’s oceans. In the 1970s, her work led to the creation of California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium, where she is director. Under her leadership, the aquarium has educated millions on conservation challenges facing sea turtles, sharks and other ocean life, and on the ocean’s role in reducing the impacts of climate change.

Protecting the ocean is vital for the environment and global health, Packard says. “We depend on it for so much,” she told the National Portrait Gallery. “The good news is that the ocean is resilient. It can recover if we act quickly.”

Betye Saar

Mixed-media artist Betye Saar has explored themes of race, gender and mysticism for almost 70 years. Her images — often painted on, or assembled from, household objects — up-end racial stereotypes and are credited for helping advance Black women’s equality in the United States.

“I had always been a child interested in fairytales and magic and things other than just ordinary life,” Saar told The Guardian. “So that’s where my creative imagery comes from in investigating cultures and dealing with how to make magic in the art.”

Dolores Huerta

Labor leader Dolores Huerta started out as a school teacher and was motivated to advocate for farm workers after seeing their children come to school hungry. She began rallying workers in California to demand fair pay and better working conditions.

In 1962, Huerta co-founded the National Farm Workers Association. She coined the phrase, “¡Sí se puede!” which was later used in English (“Yes we can!”) by then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.

In 2012, Obama awarded Huerta the Presidential Medal of Freedom and thanked her for her use of the phrase. “Dolores was very gracious when I told her I had stolen her slogan,” Obama said. “Knowing her, I’m pleased that she let me off easy, because Dolores does not play.”