7th Annual Portraits of Courage: Vietnam Remembered years later

November 3-December 5, 2025
Selby Foundation Illustration Gallery

ABOUT:
Ringling College of Art and Design is honored to present the seventh annual installment of Annual Portraits of Courage: Vietnam Remembered Years Later — a powerful exhibition paying tribute to the valor, resilience, and humanity of American veterans.

This year, the exhibition focuses on the Vietnam War, spotlighting the experiences and sacrifices of the men and women who served during one of the most complex and contested chapters in U.S. military history. Through evocative painted portraits created by Ringling College students and faculty, viewers are invited to witness the deeply personal stories of local Vietnam veterans—stories of bravery, endurance, and the enduring costs of war.

While past Annual Portraits of Courage exhibitions have honored veterans across generations and conflicts, this year’s theme shines a light on the Vietnam era—a time marked not only by intense combat abroad but also by cultural upheaval and public ambivalence at home. The portraits on view are more than representations; they are acts of remembrance and recognition, capturing both the visible and invisible marks left by service.

In amplifying these voices, Annual Portraits of Courage: Vietnam Remembered Years Later seeks to bridge generational understanding, offering a profound space for reflection, empathy, and gratitude. This exhibition stands as a testament to the power of art to honor, heal, and preserve the legacies of those who have served.