Who Is the Artist Behind the Portrait Trump Hates?

New York Times

25-03-2025

A relatively unknown artist living in Colorado was recently thrust into the spotlight when President Trump criticized her work, a portrait of himself that had been hanging in the State Capitol for about five years.
Mr. Trump said on social media that the oil painting, by Sarah Boardman, which depicts the president with softened features in a dark suit and red tie, was 'truly the worst' and that it had been 'purposefully distorted.'
'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,' he wrote on Sunday. 'In fact, they are actually angry about it!'
A day later, the Colorado General Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats, removed the portrait that was hanging in the Gallery of Presidents in the building's rotunda.
Ms. Boardman, who won a nationwide contest to paint the portraits of President Barack Obama and Mr. Trump that hung in the State Capitol, did not respond to a request for comment.
She has not spoken publicly since the portrait was removed, but months before it was unveiled, she told The Colorado Times Recorder that she had chosen a reference photo that showed Mr. Trump with a 'serious, nonconfrontational, thoughtful' expression.
Here is what we know about Ms. Boardman and that presidential portrait.
What is Ms. Boardman's artistic background?
Ms. Boardman was born in England and began studying painting 40 years ago in Germany under a master painter, according to her website. She spent more than four years learning and practicing techniques used by old master painters, a term broadly used to describe prominent artists who worked between 1300 and 1800.
Before taking to painting, she worked in airline travel and business.
What does Ms. Boardman paint?
Ms. Boardman's portraits, which make up most of her work, are varied, but all use a combination of realism and painterly aspects. She paints ordinary people in graceful or contemplative poses, public and military officials, and a variety of dogs.
According to her website, she is intrigued by the 'depth' found in her subjects and is challenged to capture the 'personality, character and soul' in each.
What has Ms. Boardman said about her portrait of Mr. Trump?
In conversations with The Times Recorder in 2018 and 2019, Ms. Boardman said her personal feelings about Mr. Trump had not affected her work. 'Any personal feelings about any subject are not relevant and are left outside the studio per my training to 'leave those emotions at the door,'' she said.
She said then that protests and outrage over her portrait of Mr. Obama were because of how people felt about the politician, not the art itself, and that she expected the same of Mr. Trump's portrait.
Ms. Boardman explained that the most supportive comment she had received at the time was in reference to Mr. Trump's neutral expression and how it would appeal to everyone. 'A portrait is not a political statement, but a representation of a human being,' she said.
Have past presidents hated their portraits?
President Theodore Roosevelt was unpleased with his first presidential portrait, which was painted by the French artist Théobald Chartran in the early 1900s, and later became known as 'the mewing cat.' Mr. Roosevelt eventually commissioned John Singer Sargent to paint his official portrait.
President Lyndon B. Johnson turned down the official commissioned portrait of himself by Peter Hurd, calling it 'the ugliest thing I ever saw.' Mr. Hurd called the comment 'very damn rude.'
What was the response to Trump's criticism?
While Mr. Trump said that Ms. Boardman's portrait of Mr. Obama was much better and speculated that the artist 'had lost her talent as she got older,' the response from officials and the public has been mixed.
Supporters and critics have flocked to Ms. Boardman's professional Facebook page, where some of her art is displayed, to share their opinions.
A spokesman for Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado told 9News, a local television station, in a statement on Monday that the governor's office was surprised by but appreciative of the president's attention to the artwork.
'We are always looking for any opportunity to improve our visitor experience and hope all the attention successfully attracts even more tourists to the Denver area,' he said.