Artist of infamously derided Trump portrait claims president's remarks jeopardize her artistic livelihood
A Loose Stroke of Criticism:
Ouch! Artists don't always please everyone, but when Donald Trump called Sarah A. Boardman's portrait of him "truly the worst," it seemed to have sent shockwaves through her four-decade long art career.
In a point-blank response on her website, Boardman took aim at Trump's accusation that she had purposefully distorted his image. She claimed this criticism was harming her business, potentially pushing it to the brink of non-recovery.
Before Trump expressed his displeasure with the artwork on social media, Boardman's painting had adorned the Colorado State Capitol's walls for nearly six years, appearing alongside portraits of other iconic U.S. presidents. Republicans, including Colorado Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, suggested replacing it with a contemporary likeness of Trump, according to reports.
Trump aired his grievances on Truth Social, writing, "Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the state Capitol ... was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before."
He then favorably compared her portrait of former president Barack Obama (which hung beside it) to his own, calling the Obama portrait "wonderful," while branding the one on him as "the worst." Additionally, Trump threw a personal jab at British-born Boardman, saying, "She must have lost her talent as she got older."
However, Boardman denied the accusations, insisting that she had maintained neutrality during the painting process and had not distorted the image with political bias or caricature. She had received numerous positive reviews and feedback since the portrait's unveiling in 2019.
The artist accused Trump of undermining her intentions, integrity, and abilities. Boardman has completed portraits of other notable figures, including Republican president George W. Bush, a district court judge, and numerous U.S. military personnel.
Boardman chose not to reveal further details about the impact the controversy has had on her practice, opting to remain silent on the issue.
The Colorado Republicans commissioned the portrait following a successful GoFundMe campaign that raised over $10,000 for the project.
Before facing criticism from the former president, Boardman had defended her work against accusations of a different nature. She argued that Trump's expression in the painting (which she described as "serious, non-confrontational, and thoughtful") did not accurately reflect the president's fiery temperament.
In a 2019 statement to the Colorado Times Recorder, Boardman defended her decision to remain neutral and to create a portrait that appeals to all communities rather than just one faction.
House Democrats had previously reacted to their counterparts' efforts to install Trump's portrait in the Capitol by stating, "If the GOP wants to spend time and money on which portrait of Trump hangs in the Capitol, then that's up to them."
An intriguing historical aside: a prankster once hung a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin near the space set aside for Trump at the Colorado state Capitol. It was swiftly discovered and removed by Capitol staff.
- Sarah A. Boardman's disputed painting style in her artwork, particularly in the portrait of President Donald Trump, has been negatively critiqued by the subject, harming her creditline and potentially her business.
- Despite claims of purposeful distortion, Boardman maintains that her arts, including the painting of Presidents like George W. Bush and Donald Trump, are devoid of political bias or caricature, aiming to appeal to all communities.
- The Colorado Republicans, who have commissioned several portraits, including the controversial one of Trump, are now considering a contemporary re-creation of his image, following negative feedback on the existing painting's style and depiction of his temperament.
