Just when you thought former President George W. Bush had settled into a quiet retirement of oil painting dogs and the occasional self-portrait, he's unveiled a new series. This time, the subject is 9/11, marking the upcoming 25th anniversary of the attacks.
The exhibition, aptly titled "Remembering 9/11," kicked off this week at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. It features 16 new paintings, which the museum says are meant to capture the courage, sacrifice, and strength that emerged from that incredibly difficult period in American history.
Details on all 16 pieces are still under wraps, because apparently, even presidential art can have a bit of mystery. However, one painting released to promote the show depicts a firefighter's helmet adorned with flowers, a poignant nod to memorials for those who perished, including Peter L. Freund.
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Start Your News DetoxFrom Commander-in-Chief to Canvas
Bush, who was president during the 9/11 attacks, has surprisingly carved out a second act as a painter since leaving office. His brush has previously tackled everything from immigrant portraits to serene scenes of Southern Methodist University.
While he's a self-taught artist (which, let's be honest, makes the whole endeavor even more interesting), his work has garnered a mixed bag of opinions. Some critics have gently labeled his style "amateur," while others, like the famously sharp Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Jerry Saltz, have actually championed his efforts. Saltz even went so far as to suggest the Whitney Museum of American Art should give Bush a solo show back in 2013. That hasn't quite happened yet, but a president painting 9/11 for its 25th anniversary? Someone's certainly keeping busy.
