The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority will host artist and historian Morgan Monceaux on Wednesday, Feb. 6, as he works on his next original creation in front of travelers and art students from Howard University at Reagan National Airport.  His exhibit “Hail to the Chiefs: Portraits of the United States Presidents and First Ladies” is currently on display at the airport until Feb. 28, 2013.

While working on his new art series, Monceaux will explain his creative process in choosing subjects, developing materials, art media and finalizing the portrait for display. He also will answer questions from the audience.

                        Who:      Morgan Monceaux, renowned artist and historian

                        What:     Discussion with artist and demonstration of his unique style to
                                       art students from Howard University

                        When:     Feb. 6, 2013
                                       10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

                        Where:   Reagan Washington National Airport
                                       Baggage Claim Level, Door #4

Monceaux, best known for his depictions of political and cultural figures, has portraits at the National Portrait Gallery and has exhibited at three presidential libraries. Born in Louisiana, Monceaux credits his mother with developing his interest in art and music. He has created several works focused on the contributions of African-Americans to history, culture and the performing arts.

Monceaux’s critically acclaimed “Hail to the Chiefs” at Reagan National Airport uses oil, acrylic paints, markers and recycled objects including campaign buttons, jewelry and other materials that draw attention to the uniqueness of his art. Travelers can expect to see portraits of George and Martha Washington, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Barack and Michelle Obama and other U.S. presidents and their wives.

Learn more about Monceaux (picutred above) and his collections here.

This event is made possible through the Airports Authority Arts Program, which offers diverse regional, national and international exhibits, live performances and public art displays that celebrate beauty and creativity in the region. For more information about this program visit the Reagan National and Dulles International airports “Arts Program” pages at mwaa.com.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority was established in 1987 by the governments of Virginia and the District of Columbia to manage and operate Washington’s Ronald Reagan National and Dulles International airports, which together serve more than 40 million passengers a year. The Airports Authority also operates and maintains the Dulles Airport Access Road and the Dulles Toll Road and manages construction of the Silver Line project, a 23-mile extension of the Washington region’s Metrorail system into Loudoun County, Va. No taxpayer money is used to operate the toll road, which is funded by toll revenues, or the airports, which are funded through aircraft landing fees, rents and revenues from concessions. The Silver Line construction is funded by a combination of toll-road revenues, airport contributions and federal, state and local government appropriations. The Airports Authority is led by a 17- member board of directors appointed by the governors of Virginia, Maryland, the mayor of Washington, D.C., and the president of the United States.

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