Billie Jean King, 2023
Former world No. 1 tennis player
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“Natural talent only determines the limits of your athletic potential. It’s dedication and a willingness to discipline your life that makes you great.”
—Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King won 39 major titles: 12 in singles, 16 in women's doubles, and 11 in mixed doubles and is regarded by many as one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
Among her many accolades and achievements, in 1972, she was the first woman, to appear alongside John Wooden on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the Sportsman of the Year award. In 1973, at age 29, she won the "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match against the 55-year-old Bobby Riggs. In 1975 she was one of Time magazine’s Persons of the Year and she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1990. In 2006, the USTA National Tennis Center in New York City was renamed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. In 2018, she won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2020, the Federation Cup was renamed the Billie Jean King Cup in her honor. In 2022, she was awarded the French Legion of Honour. She has also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
King became the first woman athlete to earn over US$100,000 in prize money; however, inequalities continued. King won the US Open in 1972 but received US$15,000 less than the men's champion Ilie Năstase. She stated that she would not play the next year if the prize money was not equal. In 1973, the US Open became the first major tournament to offer equal prize money for men and women.
Building on her tennis stardom to create social change, Billie Jean King has elevated the self-esteem of girls and women through her lifelong struggle for equality in the sports world. She was also the first prominent female professional athlete to come out as gay and has raised large sums to fight AIDS, contributed funds to combat homophobia in schools, and supported efforts to stem gay and lesbian teenage suicide rates. She and her wife Ilona Kloss have been in a relationship for over 40 years.
Hillary, 2016
First woman to be nominated for president of the United States
in 2016, former Secretary of State, Senator and First Lady
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
“To all the little girls watching...never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world.”
—Hillary Rodham Clinton
I made this painting of Hillary Clinton before the results of the 2016 United States presidential election. It was in celebration of the apparent likelihood, that with the help of my vote she would become the first female president. I have chosen to include this painting because if there is any female figure that should be described as a Persister, it would be Hillary Rodham Clinton. Her outstanding stamina and endurance in an arena that has both loved and loathed her in extremity is incomparable. She is an extraordinary example and inspiration for young girls and women everywhere to never give up on their ideas or dreams.
Kamala Harris, 2020
Vice President of the United States
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“Simply put, every issue is a Black woman’s issue, and Black women’s issues are everyone’s issues.”
—Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris is an American politician who became Vice President of the United States alongside Joseph R. Biden as president on January 20, 2021. She is the first female, African American and South Asian American Vice President of the United States and the highest-ranking female elected official in U.S. history. Her stellar career includes District Attorney of San Francisco, Attorney General of California and United States senator from California. It is in this latter position that she came to the nation’s attention immediately becoming a potent symbol for female empowerment with her keen questioning of Trump administration officials during Senate hearings, including Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh who was accused of sexual assault in 2018. It is her fearless, outspoken tenacity in working for justice ‘For The People’ as she herself states that has earned her the reputation of ‘tough fighter’ and who Time magazine named as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World" in 2013 and “Person of the Year” with Joe Biden in 2020.
Notorious RBG, 2017
Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
Private Collection
“Women will only have true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation.”
—Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. She was the second female appointee and a lifelong advocate for gender equality, equal rights and civil rights. Her entire life was devoted to women’s rights in an effort for them to be considered equal to men. Because of her many years of legal service particularly with regard to women, Justice Ginsburg appeared clearly to me as a true beacon of stability and hope. I made this painting as a tribute to her during perhaps the darkest and lowest point I have experienced politically.
Stacey Abrams, 2021
2022 Georgia gubernatorial candidate, civil and voting rights activist, founder of Fair Fight, and author
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“I need women of color, particularly black women, to understand that our achievements should not be diminished.”
—Stacey Abrams
Stacey Abrams served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017. She is a member of the Democratic party and was the nominee in the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election. This made her the first African-American, female, major-party gubernatorial nominee in the United States. She lost the election to Brian Kemp who was criticized by voting rights advocates for engaging in voter suppression. In 2018, rather than focusing on her own run for president, Abrams founded Fair Fight Action, an organization that works to overcome voter suppression. Her vital efforts have since been widely heralded as the incentive for broad voter turnout among progressives in Georgia winning Joe Biden the state of Georgia in the 2020 presidential election, and Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock senate seats in Georgia's 2020–21 U.S. Senate election and run-off election.
Rachel Maddow, 2017
MSNBC host and political commentator
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“Feminism is itself a challenge. Feminism is a challenge to the way things are in the world. It is by definition an oppositional movement, because it’s trying to accomplish something.”
—Rachel Maddow
This painting was the first in the Persisters series. I made it in order to express my deep gratitude to political commentator Rachel Maddow for her tireless effort to uncover the truth with regard to the Trump administration and its ties to Russia. Maddow’s undaunted search and transparency with her findings are unprecedented. Her ability to convey to the layperson the complexities of the political sphere is without compare and her exceptional work is an immense source of comfort.
Greta Thunberg, 2019
Swedish environmental activist
focused on the risks posed by climate change
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“You must not gamble your children’s future on the flip of a coin. Instead, you must unite behind the science. You must take action. You must do the impossible. Because giving up can never ever be an option.”
—Greta Thunberg
I first became aware of Greta Thunberg through newspaper pictures in 2018 when she began her climate strike outside of the Swedish Parliament each friday. I was immediately taken by the image of this small 15 year old girl, sitting alone on the ground with her long braids in a yellow rainslicker with a sign ‘Sklolstrejk for Klimatet’—school strike for climate change. In her repeated behavior she appeared very earnest and resolute in her mission, something that seem beyond her years. I was taken by her utter determination to be heard and to have influence. It was not long before both occurred. She has inspired a global mass awareness, particularly in young people, of the climate crisis we face.
Gloria Steinem, 2022
Writer, lecturer, political activist, and feminist organizer
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“In this moment of national despair, I am proud to be a New Yorker, a place of reproductive freedom for all who live here or travel here. But no one woman is free until all women are free.”
—Gloria Steinem
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Gloria Steinem became nationally recognized as a leader and spokeswoman for the American feminist movement. In 1971, along with Dorothy Pittman-Hughes, she co-founded the groundbreaking Ms. Magazinewhose mission was to uncover and expose the forces opposed to women’s equality. Aiming to revolutionize the lives of women she co-founded or advocated for innumerable critical movements, foundations or causes including the passing of the Equal Rights Amendment; the National Women’s Political Caucus which recruits, trains and supports pro-choice women candidates for elected and appointed offices at all levels of government; the Women's Action Alliance which promotes non-sexist, multi-racial children's education; the Women's Media Center which promotes positive images of women in media and Voters for Choice, a prochoice political action committee. Her lifelong relentless activism for women’s rights and freedom both nationally and internationally has earned her numerous awards. In 1993 she was inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, New York. In 2013, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama and in 2019, she received the Freedom Award from the National Civil Rights Museum. Steinem’s lifelong activism on behalf of women’s rights, civil rights, Native American’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, economic justice and peace has been an inspiration to the world.
When the far right extremist Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right for a women to attain an abortion it was vital to me to make this portrait of Gloria Steinem both to thank her for her enormous and outstanding contribution to women’s equality—including a woman’s right to autonomy over her own body—and to remind us of the unwavering vision and strength we all must maintain to make the change we want to happen even in the darkest of days.
Amanda Gorman, 2021
American poet and activist
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“There is always light. If only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it.”
—Amanda Gorman
Amanda Gorman came to world’s attention in 2021 when she delivered her poem "The Hill We Climb" at the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden. Her poem generated international acclaim, and shortly thereafter, two of her books achieved best-seller status. Focusing on issues of feminism, race, oppression, marginalization and the African diaspora Gorman was the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. Her inauguration poem In February 2021 was highlighted in Time magazine's 100 Next list under the category of Phenoms.
Megan Rapinoe, 2019
American professional soccer player who captains
Reign FC in the National Women’s Soccer League
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“This is my charge to everybody, Do what you can. Do what you have to do. Step outside of yourself. Be more. Be better. Be bigger than you’ve ever been before.”
—Megan Rapinoe
Aside from witnessing some fantastic soccer, one of the most memorable moments of the FIFI Women’s World Cup 2019 was when Megan Rapinoe, a brilliant and inventive player who had just scored a goal, jogged to the edge of the field and threw her arms open in a wide, victorious ‘V’ shape. Reminiscent of Winged Victory—though with her head also held proudly—it was a delight to see this young women celebrate her achievements and those of her team while sharing them with the USA supporters. It was astounding to me that this moment sparked such a heated public conversation regarding the perceived level of arrogance that Rapinoe had exhibited. All this after one gesture when sportsmen have similarly displayed their own moments of greatness without even a whisper being heard. That she has since continued to use her platform to push for equal pay and equal rights is a testament to the strength and integrity of this young female champion.
Ayanna Pressley, 2019
American politician serving as the U.S. Representative
for Massachusetts’s 7th congressional district
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“You cannot have a government for and by the people if it is not represented by all of the people.”
—Ayanna Pressley
In 2019 Democrat Ayanna Pressley caused a major and exciting upset in Boston politics. She very soundly defeated the ten-term incumbent Mike Capuano in the primary election and ran unopposed in the general election. Though she and Capuano agreed on many subjects, Pressley ran on the slogan that ‘Change Can’t Wait’ and spoke of her own major life experiences to relate to her supporters. She was endorsed by almost every major political figure in Boston. Her surprise win by such a big margin in a city known for its white, union-driven politics was a massive victory for minorities, women and underdogs everywhere. It joined the wave of political success enjoyed by many women from diverse groups that the behavior of the current government has spurred into action.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 2019
American politician and activist who serves as the
U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“There is nothing radical about moral clarity.”
—Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
I am utterly captivated by this vibrant, fearless young woman. While campaigning Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) aged 29, worked as a bartender in a downtown New York City restaurant in order to help her mother avoid foreclosure on her house. In 2018 she became the youngest woman elected to the United States House of Representatives. Possibly because of personal experience, AOC appears to be extremely in tune with regard to her constituents and their concerns. She has a vast social media presence that she uses adeptly. In my opinion, her first piece of legislation The Green New Deal is a robust and very encouraging effort to tackle climate crisis.
Emma, 2018
Student, Activist and gun control advocate
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
Private collection
“We are going to be the kids you read about in textbooks. Not because we’re going to be another statistic about mass shooting in America, but because, just as David said, we are going to be the last mass shooting. Just like Tinker v. Des Moines, we are going to change the law.”
—Emma Gonzalez
Surviving the February 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas (MSD) High School mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, Emma Gonzalez responded by co-founding the gun control advocacy group ‘Never Again MSD’ which then helped organize ‘March For Our Lives’. Watching her speak at a rally against gun violence not long after the devastating event at MSD, I was immediately taken by the look and apparent personality of Emma, with her shaved head and fearless speaking-through-tears attitude. Her young face expressed deep anguish and pain, and a sense of intense confusion surrounding the horror that she and her fellow survivors were forced to come to terms with. It was important to me that the painting reflect all of this.
Elizabeth Warren, 2019
American politician serving as the senior
United States Senator from Massachusetts
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“I don’t understand why anybody goes to all the trouble of running for president of the United States just to talk about what we really can’t do and shouldn’t fight for.”
—Elizabeth Warren
On February 7, 2017, the U.S. Senate debated confirmation of Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama to become Attorney General. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts spoke against confirmation, criticizing his record on civil rights. During the proceedings, while Senator Warren attempted to read from a letter by Coretta Scott King, she was ultimately silenced via an appeal by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Following this ruling to silence Senator Warren, McConnell said on the senate floor, “Senator Warren was giving a lengthy speech. She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” Immediately this statement went viral on social media, giving far more attention to Elizabeth Warren than McConnell had anticipated with Nevertheless She Persisted becoming a rallying cry for women everywhere. It was certainly the inspiration for the title of this series of paintings.
Ibtihaj Muhammad, 2019
American Olympian sabre fencer, and a member
of the United States fencing team.
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“People are always shocked to hear I’m an athlete by profession and even more shocked when they hear I’m a fencer from the United States. I challenge the stereotype that Muslim women are oppressed and that a Muslim can be American by birth. It’s amazing how many assumptions people make, but I embrace the opportunity to use this Olympic platform to educate.”
—Ibtihaj Muhammad
Muhammad is a literal game changer. In 2016 she became the first Muslim woman to represent the United States at the Olympics wearing a hijab. She was part of the women’s saber team that won a bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro. Having faced death threats from outside and ignorant and manipulative behavior within her sport she still excelled. Not only was she an Olympic medal winner but she believes the results of her achievement have changed the narrative of self perception of the Muslim community. Speaking to the New York Times she states, “And if you take that a step further and look at the way Muslim women see themselves, these young girls who haven’t had anyone at this level of sport do that on the world stage — compete at the highest level of sport. To do that is changing the way Muslim women think about themselves and perceive themselves.”
Dr Christine Blasey Ford, 2018
American Professor of Psychology at Palo Alto University
and a research psychologist at Stanford University
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“I have been accused of acting out of partisan political motives. Those who say that do not know me. I am an independent person and I am no one’s pawn.”
—Dr Christine Blasey Ford
The portrait of Dr Christine Blasey Ford came about very quickly after watching her speak during the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. I was utterly disgusted witnessing the outcome. I believed Dr Ford and considered her coming forward to speak to be a very courageous act for the sake of the nation. Her valiant action magnified Brett Kavanaugh’s belligerent and ugly conduct that I found impossible to reconcile with someone being considered for the highest court in the land.
Nancy Pelosi, 2019
American Democratic Party politician serving as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives since January 2019
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“The president must be held accountable; no one is above the law.”
—Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives for the second time, (also from 2007 to 2011), Nancy Pelosi is the highest-ranking elected woman in United States history. She is a measured politician and true patriot in that she insists on allowing the Constitution of the United States to guide her political decisions. She has played her role in the impeachment matter with a deliberate and steady hand while making sure-footed strategic moves. Unwilling to buckle under repeated calls from within her party to move more quickly or because of vicious attacks from the right, Pelosi suffers no fools. Her deliberate, methodical approach in dealing with the truth has a history of yielding success for her with regard to any given matter she has focused on.
Dr Fiona Hill, 2020
British-American foreign affairs specialist and academic
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“The unfortunate truth is that Russia was the foreign power that systematically attacked our democratic institutions in 2016.”
—Fiona Hill
Dr. Fiona Hill is the Robert Bosch Senior Fellow at the Center on the United States and Europe Policy program at Brookings Institution. She is a former official at the U.S. National Security Council specializing in Russian and European affairs and an intelligence analyst under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama from 2006 to 2009. In the first quarter of 2017 Hill was appointed by President Donald Trump as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for European and Russian affairs on his National Security Council staff. Noted for her plain-spoken delivery, she was a witness in the November 2019 House hearings regarding the impeachment inquiry during the first impeachment of Donald Trump. On January 11, 2021 an opinion written by Hill described the basis of the January 6th 2021 attempted coup that provoked the second impeachment of Donald Trump.
Marie Yovanovitch, 2019
American diplomat and member of the senior ranks of the United States Foreign Service.
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
“My parents fled Communist and Nazi regimes. Having seen, firsthand, the war and poverty and displacement common to totalitarian regimes, they valued the freedom and democracy the U.S. offers and that the United States represents. And they raised me to cherish those values.”
—Marie Yovanovitch
Marie Yovanovitch has served in a variety of State Department posts, the latest being Ambassador to Ukraine 2016-2019. She endured a conspiracy-driven smear campaign by President Trump and his allies which culminated in her removal from office. Yovanovitch, an expert in anti-corruption practices, had undermined and obstructed the ability of Trump to pressure the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, into investigating Trump’s political rival Joe Biden. Her abrupt removal from office shocked State Department officials and her ouster became one of the issues examined in the House of Representatives impeachment inquiry against Trump. Though the State Department attempted to stop her, she proceeded to give testimony.