George W Bush exhibits 30 new paintings of world leaders

Former U.S president turns to art

George W. Bush, the former 43 president of the United States, has recently unveiled a collection of painted portraits in a new exhibition titled 'The Art of Leadership: A President’s Personal Diplomacy'

Having opened to the public on April 5 at the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Texas, is a new exhibition, The Art of Leadership: A President's Personal Diplomacy. A unique showcase that features 30 portraits of world leaders, each painted by George W. Bush himself.

Since completing his eight-year term at The White House, Bush has taken to the creative form of art, giving him the opportunity to paint on daily basis, and he now reveals portraits which he has created of the world's most foremost leaders.

The 30 never-before-exhibited artworks by the former president are each accompanied by artifacts, photographs and personal reflections to help illustrate the stories of relationships he formed around the world.

"I place a high priority on personal diplomacy. Getting to know a fellow world leader's personality, character, and concerns made it easier to find common ground and deal with contentious issues. That was a lesson I had picked up from dad, who was one of the great practitioners of personal diplomacy." explained Bush.

Other world leaders featured in the portraits include Bush's father and former president George H. W. Bush, plus Tony Blair, the Dalai Lama, John Howard, Jiang Zemin of China, Vladimir Putin, Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai, Nicolas Sarkozy and many others.