Mother of Modern Medicine: Henrietta Lacks to be Honored at the Smithsonian

A 2017 portrait by acclaimed artist Kadir Nelson of Henrietta Lacks will be installed at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery on May 15. Mrs. Lacks passed away from cervical cancer in 1951. Her cells were harvested at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland when researchers discovered the cells could reproduce indefinitely in test tubes. No consent or compensation was given to the family for the extraction or use of the cells. While pharmaceutical companies and medical researchers made millions of dollars from the commercialization of her cells, Mrs. Lacks’ children and family members struggled with healthcare. The treatment of Henrietta Lacks and her family strengthens historical connections between unauthorized experimentation and racism endured by people of color and the poor. The HeLa cell became responsible for such medical breakthroughs as the polio vaccine, in-vitro fertilization, cancer and AIDS research, to name a few.

In his stunning and profound portrayal of Mrs. Lack, Nelson used visual symbolism to convey her story and legacy. He explained the intricate details of his work in an Instagram post: “I elected to paint a prideful and glowing portrait of Henrietta Lacks, who is often referred to as, ‘The Mother of Modern Medicine,’ visually juxtaposing art and science. She stands with her beautifully manicured hands crossed, covering her womb (the birthplace of the immortal cell line) while cradling her beloved Bible (a symbol of her strong faith). Her deep red dress is covered with a vibrant floral pattern that recalls images of cell structure and division. Other symbolism includes her bright yellow hat, which functions as a halo, her pearls as a symbol of the cancer that took her life, and the repeated hexagonal wallpaper pattern, a design containing the “Flower of Life,” an ancient symbol of immortality and exponential growth. The buttons missing from her dress reference the cells that were taken from her body without her permission”.

The artwork was acquired as a gift from Nelson and the JKBN Group LLC, by the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture. The portrait will be available for viewing at the Smithsonian from Tuesday, May 15th through Sunday, November 4th.

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