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Maxine Singer

National Portrait Gallery

Object Details

Artist
Jon R. Friedman, born 1947
Sitter
Maxine Singer, 15 Feb 1931 - 9 Jul 2024
Exhibition Label
Born New York City
Maxine Singer’s achievements in science are newsworthy, but she has eluded the public eye. A pioneering molecular biologist, Singer has also been in the forefront of crafting ethical and safety guidelines for genetic engineering and is a staunch public advocate for science. She began her career at the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases in 1958 and moved to the National Cancer Institute in 1974, where she was recognized for her research in recombinant DNA. She led the Carnegie Institution from 1988 to 2002, earning the National Medal of Science in 1992. Singer is renowned not only for her research but also for promoting science education in public schools and equal access for women and minorities in scientific fields.
Commissioned by the Carnegie Institution to make a painted portrait of Singer, artist Jon Friedman worked closely with her during the photo shoot. Capturing in this sketch the immediacy of a moment, he implies the impact of her intense focus.
Maxine Singer nacida en 1931
Nacida en la ciudad de Nueva York
Los logros de Maxine Singer en las ciencias son dignos de primeras planas, pero ella esquiva la atención del público. Singer no solo ha sido pionera de la biología molecular, sino una líder en la elaboración de pautas éticas y de seguridad para el ámbito de la ingeniería genética, además de tenaz defensora pública de las ciencias. Comenzó su carrera en 1958 en el Instituto Nacional de Artritis, Metabolismo y Enfermedades Digestivas y se trasladó en 1974 al Instituto Nacional del Cáncer, donde fue reconocida por su investigación sobre el ADN recombinante. Dirigió el Instituto Carnegie desde 1988 hasta 2002, y recibió la Medalla Nacional de las Ciencias en 1992. Singer es famosa no solo por sus investigaciones sino por promover la enseñanza de ciencias en las escuelas públicas y el acceso equitativo para las mujeres y las minorías en los campos científicos.
El Instituto Carnegie le comisionó a Jon Friedman un retrato pintado de Singer y él trabajó de cerca con ella durante la sesión de fotos. Al captar en este boceto la inmediatez de un momento, el artista evoca la impactante intensidad de esta mujer.
Jon R. Friedman (nacido en 1947)
Óleo sobre papel preparado con gesso, 2012
Donación del artista
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of the artist
2012
Object number
NPG.2013.11
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Copyright
©Jon R. Friedman
Type
Drawing
Medium
Oil on gessoed paper
Dimensions
Sheet: 75 × 105 cm (29 1/2 × 41 5/16")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Costume\Jewelry\Necklace
Maxine Singer: Female
Maxine Singer: Science and Technology\Scientist\Biochemist
Portrait
Record ID
npg_NPG.2013.11
Metadata Usage (text)
Usage conditions apply
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4382d83b9-def0-4c66-9669-30a097c7778c

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