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The American Society of Portrait Artists (ASOPA) is the largest portrait artist patron organization in the world. Founded in 1987, ASOPA has patrons in all 50 states and 34 nations and is a non-profit, 501 - (c) 3 organization. ASOPA is dedicated to furthering the fine art of portraiture and supporting the individual artist. It is led by a distinguished advisory board of directors, all dedicated to developing a year-round program of portrait events across the country which will increasingly provide every possible resource for artists and persons interested in portraiture. Please see Our Advisory Board for more information. ASOPA provides a means for networking with portrait artists and serves as a forum to provide valuable information, research materials, and links to portrait seminars.
- The advisory board of ASOPA will continue to develop relationships with fine art schools across the country and world to educate students and future artists and will conduct several portrait events each year. ASOPA has conducted several portrait events around the country including two events at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, several events at The Savannah College of Art and Design and The Academy of Art College in San Francisco. Portrait events have been conducted at the Palette & Chisel Academy in Chicago, American Academy of Art in Chicago and Paier Art College in Hamden, Connecticut. (Please see our Schedule of Events for more information). ASOPA has conducted scholarship competitions for students at several of these schools and has awarded over $30,000 in scholarships. (Please see Scholarship Winners for more information).
- The advisory board of ASOPA encourages the development of chapters of interested artists around the country and world. These chapters will serve to keep the interest and practice of portrait painting alive. Many artists attend our various portrait events and return home with no one to network with and continue the enthusiasm. There are active and large ASOPA affiliated chapters in California, Florida and Connecticut and we are receiving calls from artists in many states who are interested in forming an affiliated chapter. Other chapters are being developed in Ohio, Texas and South Carolina. ASOPA is proud to be associated with the historic California Art Club. (Please see Affiliated Chapters for more information).
- ASOPA produces an international journal, The Portrait Signature, which is the only journal in the world devoted to portraiture. This journal features articles on the world’s top portrait artists, marketing and technical approaches to painting, and use of technology, such as the internet, and how it relates to the portrait artist. The journal also contains articles on ASOPA affiliated chapters of artists everywhere and hopefully, will encourage others to pursue the fine art of portraiture. Please see our (Publications Library for more information).
- ASOPA awards the John Singer Sargent Medal to those artists who have built outstanding careers in portrait painting and to those that have made great contributions in the education of artists. This lifetime achievement medal is awarded during the celebrated Portrait Arts Festival (PAF). Last year’s recipients were Mr. Andrew Wyeth and Mr. Jamie Wyeth. Please see Sargent Medal Winners for more information.
- In New York City, ASOPA’s The Portrait Arts Festival (PAF) and The Contemporary Portrait (CP) are at the forefront of world portrait events. Artists from all over the world gather to study with the greatest portraitists of our time. In conjunction with this event is the International Portrait Competition in which thousands of dollars in cash and prizes are awarded. (Please see Portrait Competition for more information).
- Recently, several major publications recognized ASOPA for its role as an international portrait society. Town & Country magazine, Forbes, and USA Today have recently referenced the popularity and growing interest in portraiture and have referred readers to visit ASOPA.
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