Colorado Springs artist Sarah Boardman has formally denied allegations she intentionally distorted President Donald Trump’s likeness in a recently removed portrait from the Colorado State Capitol.
In an emailed statement to the Associated Press, Boardman rejected the president’s claim of purposeful distortion and disputed his assertion that the artwork had generated complaints from “many people” before his criticism.
Why It Matters
Boardman also stated that Trump’s public criticism was “directly and negatively impacting my business of over 41 years which now is in danger of not recovering.”
The controversy has shifted public perception of her work, which she claims received “overwhelmingly positive reviews and feedback” during the six years it hung in the Capitol.
Trump’s portrait, or at least the space it eventually occupied, previously made headlines in 2018, after a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin was displayed on an easel in front of the place where Trump’s painting was expected to hang. Democratic legislative staffer Katie March, who let in the ProgressNow Colorado activist, faced disciplinary action for the incident.
What To Know
Trump called Boardman’s portrait “purposefully distorted” in a March 23 post on Truth Social, adding that she “must have lost her talent as she got older.”
He stated he would prefer having no portrait in the Colorado Capitol to the one she created. Boardman defended her process, noting that a Colorado Capitol advisory committee commissioned the portrait, approved the reference photo, and reviewed her work in progress.
“I completed the portrait accurately, without ‘purposeful distortion,’ political bias, or any attempt to caricature the subject,” she told the AP.
Boardman also painted portraits of former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama for the state Capitol. Trump acknowledged in his post that Obama “looks wonderful” in his portrait while describing his own as “truly the worst.”
What People Are Saying
When the portrait was first unveiled, Sarah Boardman said: “My portrait of President Trump has been called thoughtful, non-confrontational, not angry, not happy, not tweeting. In five, 10, 15, 20 years, he will be another president on the wall who is only historical background and he needs to look neutral.”
President Donald Trump on Truth Social after viewing the portrait: “Nobody likes a bad picture or painting of themselves, but the one in Colorado, in the State Capitol, put up by the Governor, along with all other Presidents, was purposefully distorted to a level that even I, perhaps, have never seen before.”
He continued: “The artist also did President Obama, and he looks wonderful, but the one on me is truly the worst. She must have lost her talent as she got older. In any event, I would much prefer not having a picture than having this one, but many people from Colorado have called and written to complain.”
Boardman told the AP after the painting’s removal: “I completed the portrait accurately, without ‘purposeful distortion,’ political bias, or any attempt to caricature the subject, actual or implied. I fulfilled the task per my contract.”
Colorado GOP Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen said the Trump portrait should be replaced with one: “That depicts his contemporary likeness.”
What Happens Next?
Following Trump’s criticism, legislative leaders announced they would remove the portrait. It was taken down the next day and placed in museum storage.
Boardman told the AP that she would not be commenting further on the matter.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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