The White House's art collection, sometimes also called the White House Collection or Pride of the American Nation, [1] has grown over time from donations from descendants of the Founding Fathers to commissions by established artists. [2] It comprises paintings, sculptures, and other art forms. [3] At times, the collection grows from a president's specific request, such as when Ronald Reagan began collecting the work of naval artist Tom Freeman in 1986, a tradition that continued through the Obama years. [4]
The White House's Art collection was established by an Act of Congress in 1961 and grew extensively during the Kennedy Administration. [5] It now includes more than 65,000 objects if individual items are catalogued. [6] As of 2021, there are more than 500 pieces on view under the care of the White House Curator and the White House Historical Association, [7] and these are often complemented by those on loan from museums. [8] [6] [9]