ARTIST STATEMENT

After the result of the 2016 Presidential election I immediately began a series of large-scale portrait paintings entitled PERSISTERS. I made these paintings to amplify my profound horror and searing outrage after witnessing the overt misogyny and sexism of the new president of the United States, Donald Trump. Harnessing my fury I set about painting female leaders, change-makers, firebrands and trailblazers who were courageously distinguishing themselves in the national and global fight for justice at a time when I myself felt politically silenced.

I made these portraits large scale to vividly commend these women for their achievements just as white men have been lauded for theirs throughout history. I wanted the viewer to be shocked and surprised by their size. The neutral expression and forward gaze of my subjects is integral to the tension and energy of the portraits. What excites me about the static, permanent eye contact is that it invites the potential for both deep intimacy and is also a clear assertion of dominance.

My whole body is involved in the process of making these paintings. I mix ample piles of color then start by use large house painting brushes to cover broad areas of the canvas decisively. I pace back and forth from the painting to remain relaxed in my paint application and to regularly view the image from a distance. I frequently rotate the canvas to paint it from all angles and I use a wide variety of brush sizes to help promote unique characters in my paint marks. Painting with clean color mixes I rely on accidents occurring to disturb the visual order. If necessary, I will manufacture ‘accidents’ by adding a second or third color to my brush to make unpredictable, color relationships that I feel have a life force of their own. To me, each portrait is complete when the viewer can simultaneously explore an abstract interweaving of individual paint marks and also experience a solid representation of flesh and bone.

I made these paintings one by one and for my own salvation but I have since experienced the impact—most particularly on women—of these portraits of recognizable, out spoken, figures when they are viewed together. In 2019, when the series was shown at The Commons, a non-profit art institute in Provincetown, MA, several groups of women expressed the pain they felt at feeling politically unseen, and tearfully asked to remain overnight in the room with these paintings They told me that being with these portraits gave them a sense of calm, meditation and safety.

I am immensely grateful to know that my work has directly supported other women. I am also extremely humbled to have been asked by several teachers and professors across the country for permission to use these paintings in their classrooms. Because of my portrait of Dr. Fiona Hill, in September 2022 I was utterly delighted to be asked to participate in a most vigorous conference titled, Conversations with Exceptional Women, with Dr. Fiona Hill. Also in 2022, in recognition of PERSISTERS, I was very honored to be the inaugural recipient of the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod Artist of the Year award. These extraordinary opportunities have had a massive impact on my understanding of my role and my thinking as an artist. Simply put, I am an overtly political artist and I will make work with the strongest voice possible.