Star Power: Photographs from Hollywood’s Golden Age by George Hurrell (A Sequel)

During the 1930s and early 1940s, George Hurrell (1904–1992) reigned as Hollywood’s preeminent portrait photographer, and the National Portrait Gallery presents a second installation of “Star Power: Photographs from Hollywood’s Golden Age by George Hurrell (A Sequel).” Opening February 13, 2026, this “encore” exhibition features a new selection of 20 vintage photographs drawn from the museum’s collection of 70 Hurrell portraits. The images capture film royalty of the 1930s and 1940s, with Hurrell’s signature lighting and artful posing that magnified the stars and shaped popular standards of glamour. The exhibition is curated by senior curator of photographs Ann Shumard and has been made possible through the generous support of Mark and Cindy Aron.

When: February 13, 2026 – January 10, 2027.

Venue: National Portrait Gallery, First Floor, South Corridor.

Highlights: The 20 vintage photographs portray some of Golden Age Hollywood’s most memorable stars, including Constance Bennett, Joan Crawford, Marlene Dietrich, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Dorothy Lamour, Myrna Loy, Mary Pickford, William Powell, Basil Rathbone, Charles “Buddy” Rogers, Rosalind Russell, and Barbara Stanwyck. Among the works on view are a double portrait of Clark Gable and Joan Crawford promoting their 1936 film “Love on the Run,” as well as individual portraits of Crawford, Fairbanks Jr., Stanwyck, Russell, Powell, Loy, Lamour, Dietrich, Garbo, Pickford and Rogers, and Jean Harlow. Extended label text provides background on each star’s career and Hurrell’s approach.

Curator: The exhibition is curated by Ann Shumard, senior curator of photographs.

Acknowledgments: Ongoing support from the Portrait Gallery’s collection, with individual prints acquired in part through the generosity of an anonymous donor. Major exhibition funding from Mark and Cindy Aron.

Note: This is a sequel to the first “Star Power” installation that ran March 1, 2024 – January 25, 2026. The new selection offers fresh insights into Hurrell’s work and the enduring allure of classic Hollywood portraiture. No pricing or age restrictions are listed; check with the National Portrait Gallery for admission details and accessibility information.