Bush's 'Art Of Leadership' Puts Putin And Others On Display

By Mark Memmott / NPR

Published April 4, 2014 at 7:01 AM PDT

This story was published more than 10 years ago.

Former President George W. Bush says his favorite from among the portraits he's painted of world leaders is the one he did of his father, former President George H.W. Bush. "I painted a gentle soul," he says.

Former President George W. Bush's portraits include one of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The exhibition at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas includes mementos from Bush's time in office.

"The Art of Leadership: A President's Personal Diplomacy" officially opens Saturday at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas.

As the nation's 43rd president says: "Who woulda thought it?"

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Talking with his daughter Jenna Bush Hager during a pre-recorded interview on NBC-TV's Today show, the self-deprecating Bush says:

"I was a little reluctant to put them out [publicly], because I'm not a great artist. I don't want people to think I'm a great artist. On the other hand, I did want to refresh the Bush Center. I want people to come and visit us. We view ourselves as a place where people can learn."

Bush, who as we've said before took up painting after he left the White House in January 2009, has put more than two dozen portraits he's done of other world leaders on display. The subjects include Russian President Vladimir Putin, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Also on display: "artifacts, photographs, and personal reflections to help illustrate the stories of relationships formed on the world stage," according to the center.

Bush says his favorite from among the paintings is that of his father, the nation's 41st president. "I painted a gentle soul," he tells Jenna Bush Hager.

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