National Portrait Gallery honors famous figures in inaugural gala

Introduction The Kennedy Center has its Kennedy Center Honors, while Ford’s Theatre has its Ford’s Theatre Gala. Sunday night, the National Portrait Gallery hosted its inaugural American Portrait Gala. The fundraising gala honored five individuals whose portraits are in the museum’s collection: Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Henry “Hank” Aaron, U.S. Marine and Medal of Honor-recipient Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, singer and musician Aretha Franklin, fashion designer Carolina Herrera and artist Maya Lin. Click through the gallery for highlights of the night.

Honoree Maya Lin is seen here at the Nov. 15, 2015 event. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com

Artist and architect Maya Lin was honored at the Nov. 15, 2015 event. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com

Honoree Maya Lin is pictured with her daughter, India Wolf. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))

(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Honoree Maya Lin is seen at the National Portrait Gallery on Nov. 15, 2015 with her daughter, India Wolf, and husband, Daniel Wolf. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com

India Wolf, daughter of architect Maya Lin, is seen wearing a Carolina Herrera gown. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com

Pictured here are Honorary Committee members Jack Donnelly and Nancy Itteilag of Long & Foster/Christie’s. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com

Pictured here are Honorary Committee members Jack Donnelly and Nancy Itteilag of Long & Foster/Christie’s. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))

(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Timothy Lowery, general manager of CityCenterDC (right), is pictured here with a guest. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com

The family of honoree Cpl. Kyle Carpenter is seen here on Nov. 15, 2015. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com

Lola Reinsch is seen here at the inaugural American Portrait Gala on Nov. 15, 2015. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is seen here arriving at the National Portrait Gallery on Nov. 15, 2015. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))

(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is seen here arriving at the National Portrait Gallery on Nov. 15, 2015. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com

Honoree Cpl. Kyle Carpenter is pictured at the inaugural American Portrait Gala. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))

(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet is pictured with gala co-chair Robert Kogod. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com

National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet is pictured with gala co-chair Robert Kogod. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com

National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet is pictured with Congressman John Lewis. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Honoree fashion designer Carolina Herrera is seen here at the National Portrait Gallery on Nov. 15, 2015. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ( (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))

(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Actor Lee Daniels is pictured at the National Portrait Gallery with honoree Carolina Herrera on Nov. 15, 2015. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))

(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Masters of Ceremonies Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff are seen here at the National Portrait Gallery’s inaugural American Portrait Gala on Nov. 15, 2015. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))

(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Masters of Ceremonies Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff are seen here at the National Portrait Gallery’s inaugural American Portrait Gala on Nov. 15, 2015. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com

Founding Gala Chairs Wayne and Catherine Reynolds are seen here. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))

(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Founding Gala Chairs Wayne and Catherine Reynolds are seen here. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com