Carmen Herrera Painting in the White House

Carmen Herrera, the late Cuban American painter, has joined the prestigious group of artists whose works are part of the White House’s permanent collection. She is the first woman of Latin American descent to receive this honor.

Her 2011 geometric painting, Dia Feriado, featuring bold teal and tangerine blocks, now hangs in the East Wing of the White House. This wing, historically associated with the First Lady, represents women’s evolving roles in political and social life. Former First Lady Jill Biden expressed appreciation for the contribution, highlighting Herrera’s seven-decade artistic career in the U.S.

The acquisition was secured following Herrera’s exhibition at Site Santa Fe, and it places her alongside artists such as Alma Thomas and Henry Ossawa Tanner, pioneers in American art history. 

Herrera, a celebrated Minimalist artist known for her hard-edged abstractions, passed away in 2022 at the age of 106. Her work continues to gain recognition, with Blanco y Verde selling for $2.9 million in 2019.