BO BARTLETT | Portrait Society of America

THE PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF AMERICA AWARDS BO BARTLETT THE 2026 GOLD MEDAL

"The Portrait Society is proud to announce that on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the 28th annual The Art of the Portrait, we will be honoring Bo Bartlett with the 2026 Gold Medal for his remarkable contributions to portraiture. His paintings combine classical skill, emotional honesty, and narrative power—leaving a lasting mark on artists and audiences alike. Congratulations, Bo!"

In an effort to recognize and acknowledge individual artists, patrons and institutions that have made a difference in the arts in America, the Portrait Society has established three awards. The Gold Medal is presented to individual artists that have dedicated themselves to excellence in their work and a commitment to educating their fellow artists.

The Portrait Society of America is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in February 1998 to further the traditions of fine art portraiture and figurative art.

BO BARTLETT (b. 1955 in Columbus, GA) received his Certificate of Fine Arts in 1981 from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and a Certificate of Filmmaking from New York University in 1986. In 2023, Bartlett received an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Art from the New York Academy of Art. Bartlett is the recipient of awards and accolades, including the 2026 Portrait Society of America’s Gold Medal, Tallahassee, FL; Pew Fellowship in the Arts, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, Philadelphia, PA; and the Museum Merit Award, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, among others.