Portrait of a Soldier
View the Portraits
Complete Collection OR Slideshow
What Is It?
The Portrait of a Soldier exhibit is a traveling display of hand-sketched portraits of fallen servicememebers from Illinois who have been killed since September 11, 2001 in the Global War on Terror. Artist Cameron Schilling, of Mattoon, drew the first portrait in August 2004, after Army SPC Charles Neeley, also of Mattoon, was killed in Iraq. Schilling gave the sketch to SPC Neeley’s parents to convey his sympathy for their loss. In October 2005, while a student at Eastern Illinois University, Schilling decided to draw a portrait of every Illinois servicemember who has fallen during the Global War on Terror.
The portraits are copies of the original, which has been given to the fallen soldiers next of kin, and the exhibit travels throughout the state of Illinois. Lt. Governor Pat Quinn holds a press conference on the opening day at each location, and invites families of the fallen soldiers who live in the area to attend.
Where Will It Be?
City | Venue | Exhibit's Opening Date |
| TBA | TBA | TBA |
Where Has It Been?
City | Venue | Exhibit's Opening Date |
| Aurora | Aurora Public Library-Eola Rd. Branch | November 7, 2008 |
| Godfrey/Alton | Lewis and Clark Community College | October 15, 2008 |
| Marion | Marion Cultural Center | October 7, 2008 |
| Effingham | Effingham County Government Center | September 26, 2008 |
| Vandalia | Kaskaskia College | September 17, 2008 |
| Belleville | Southwestern IL College | September 9, 2008 |
| Kankakee | Kankakee Community College | August 21, 2008 |
| Roselle | Roselle Public Library | August 1, 2008 |
| Des Plaines | Des Plaines Public Library | July 11, 2008 |
| Galesburg | American Legion | July 3, 2008 |
| Canton | Spoon River College | June 18, 2008 |
| Springfield | State Capitol Rotunda | May 29, 2008 |
| Chicago | Navy Pier | May 24, 2008 |
| Oak Park | Oak Park Public Library | May 13, 2008 |
| Jacksonville | Jacksonville | May 5, 2008 |
| Tinley Park | Andrew High School | April 27, 2008 |
| Taylorville | Christian County Courthouse | April 18, 2008 |
| Schaumburg | Schaumburg Public Library | March 28, 2008 |
| Chicago | James R. Thompson Center | March 19, 2008 |
| Litchfield | City Hall | March 7, 2008 |
| Pekin | City Hall | February 18, 2008 |
| Waukegan | Genesse Theatre | January 30, 2008 |
| Danville | Vermillion County War Mueseum | November 15, 2007 |
| Chicago | James R. Thompson Center | November 9, 2007 |
| Aurora | Paramount Arts Center | November 2, 2007 |
| Crystal Lake | McHenry County College | October 26, 2007 |
| Burbank | Prarie Trails Public Library | October 18, 2007 |
| Lincoln | Logan County Courthouse | October 11, 2007 |
| Glen Ellyn | Student Resource Center - College of DuPage | October 5, 2007 |
| DuQuoin | State Fair | August 25, 2007 |
| Cicero | Morton College | August 3, 2007 |
| Joliet | Joliet Area Historical Mueseum | June 20, 2007 |
| Chicago | Daley Plaza - East Plaza | May 22, 2007 |
| DeKalb | Holems Student Center - NIU | April 30, 2007 |
| Macomb | Donald Spencer Student Rec. Center - WIU | April 18, 2007 |
| Carbondale | Student Center - SIUC | April 10, 2007 |
| Normal | Bone Student Center - ISU | March 27, 2007 |
| Decatur | Milikin University | November 15, 2006 |
| Naperville | City Hall | November 3, 2006 |
| Charleston | Eastern Illinois University | October 30, 2006 |
| Paris | American Legion | October 23, 2006 |
| Peoria | WTVP Studio Gallery | October 17, 2006 |
| Moline | Blackhawk College - Building One - LL | October 12, 2006 |
| Quincy | Quincy University - Francis Hall Main Flr | September 28, 2006 |
| Rockford | Memorial Hall | September 19, 2006 |
| Urbana | Illini Union Art Gallery - U of I | September 7, 2006 |
| DuQuoin | State Fair | August 26, 2006 |
| Edwardsville | Lovejoy Library Main Level - SIUE | August 17, 2006 |
| Springfield | Old State Capitol | June 30, 2006 |
| Chicago | James R. Thompson Center | May 25, 2006 |