Letters and Lines (A Portrait of Artist Kenturah Davis)

Every two years, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery honors outstanding Americans with the museum’s Portrait of a Nation Award. In 2022, Ava DuVernay was honored with both the award and a commissioned portrait by artist Kenturah Davis. This film provides an intimate window into Kenturah’s process, energy, and values – with careful pacing, framing, motion effects, and a mix of film and digital footage.