Shangri-La Exhibit for Lawrence Williams

First Lady Bush

Shangri-La is pleased to welcome the works of nationally honored portrait artist, Lawrence Williams, for a special exhibit opening this coming March, in conjunction with the founding of the United States Presidents Center in Ithaca, New York.

Remember The Ladies is a rare collection of oil paintings of United States First Ladies by acclaimed portrait artist, the late Lawrence Williams. See if you can identify Bess Truman, Mary Todd Lincoln, and Sarah Polk to name just a few. We take this title from a letter written to John Adams from his wife as the Continential Congress was drafting the Declaration of Independence.

Artist Lawrence had a successful career as a portrait artist of the rich and famous. Just prior to the Bicentenial he got the idea of creating a portriat collection of all Presidents and First Ladies of the United States. He continued adding to the collection until his death at the end of the 20th century.

The opening reception for this show in Ithaca is from 5 to 9 PM, at Shangri-La Gifts and Publications, 156 E. State Street (The Commons), 3 March 2006. Exhibit is open daily from March to June of 2006.

First Lady Truman

Even the best of photographs rarely capture one's personality the way a true artist can. That is why celebrities and leaders trusted master portrait painter Lawrence Williams for portraits that presented their spirit, as well as their likeness, in a striking presentation. Lawrence Williams was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, on 24 February 1913 and passed away on 30 July 2003. He opened his first gallery in Boston in 1932 and his fame as a leading portrait artist quickly spread. Soon after opening his first gallery he opened additional galleries in New York, Chicago, Houston, and Beverly Hills.

Lawrence Williams was considered one of the most sought-after portrait artists in history, and his portraits have covered a vast range of business, professional, military, and diplomatic personalities. During World War II, Lawrence Williams was commissioned to paint portraits of all leaders of the Allied nations, resulting in a portfolio of 135 portraits of the most famous men of that era.

Lawrence Williams received a large number of testimonial thank you letters. Here is a sample of three of them from former President Bill Clinton, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra O-Connor, and former First Lady Barbara Bush.

First Lady Clinton

First Lady Washington

The State of Colorado has a complete collection of commissioned Lawrence Williams presidential portraits. Since his death, it has been difficult to find an artist to match the quality of his work. Mr. Daniel Frazier was first chosen to paint a portrait of President Bush for the Capitol to add to the ongoing collection. But the work became problematic so a second artist was selected by the committee Ms. Sarah Boardman. Eventually, the gallery representing Lawrence's work, was able to provide a selection of several portraits of President Bush which he finished before his death. Purchase of the additional Lawrence portrait was approved on 5 December 2003.

First Lady Polk

First Lady Adams

Lawrence Williams has a long-standing reputation of painting spectacular portraits of U.S. Presidents, and currently has 11 paintings housed in the Smithsonian Institute. Williams has also painted several Supreme Court Justices.

In the fall of 1974, Lawrence Williams became interested in the approaching American Bicentennial celebration and began painting a series of portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, using official photographs that Williams obtained from the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

First Lady Cleveland

If you happen to be a student or faculty member of nearby Wells College, you may recognize a famous alumnus, Frances Folsom Cleveland, the first bride of a President to be married in the White House, Grover Cleveland. Frances was born in Buffalo, New York, only child of Emma C. Harmon and Oscar Folsom--who became Grover Cleveland's law partner. As a devoted family friend Cleveland bought "Frank" her first baby carriage. As administrator of the Folsom estate after his partner's death, though never her legal guardian, he guided her education with sound advice. When she entered Wells College, he asked Mrs. Folsom's permission to correspond with her, and he kept her room bright with flowers. Though Frank and her mother missed his inauguration in 1885, they visited him at the White House that spring. There affection turned into romance--despite 27 years' difference in age--and there the wedding took place on June 2nd, 1886.

The Williams Portrait Exhibit at Shangri-La on The Commons, March to July, 2006, opening reception Friday March 3rd.

In addition to portraits by Lawrence Williams, there will be two addtional First Lady portraits on exhibit, by other artists. These artworks are all the property of THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENTS CENTER, INC. Click HERE to view other amazing art at Shangri-La, located at 156 East State Street, on The Commons, Ithaca, NY.

Open daily from Noon to 6 PM, except Sunday and Monday. For more details call 607-272-6156, or 570-395-3423.