Ross Rossin, the Bulgarian-born painter who painted Don Nixon’s portrait, has also painted both Bush presidents and Jimmy Carter, as well as Civil Rights icons.
Rossin’s portrait of Nixon will hang at the Nixon Centre for the Arts on Lower Fayetteville Road. It was unveiled at a luncheon at the center on Tuesday.
Rossin’s work hangs at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, the High Museum of Art, the Center for Civil and Human Rights and the Carter Presidential Library and Museum.
A portrait of King George VI of England by Rossin was completed for the Diamond Jubilee of his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II.
Civil rights pioneer Andrew Young and actor Morgan Freeman have works by Rosson in their personal collections.
Rossin’s painting of writer Dr. Maya Angelou was chosen for the postage stamp honoring her in 2015.
Rosson has painted since he was 6 years old. He also is a sculptor whose work includes the 9-foot sculpture of Hank Aaron at SunTrust Park.
Nixon died in 2016, and his wife, Cathe, now is director of the Nixon Centre. She spoke briefly after the unveiling of the painting.
She said that she was not certain what Don Nixon would have said about the painting, but she said their daughter, Jordan, likes it. “Jordan is quite pleased, and to me, that means the most,” she said.