Artist Defends Trump Portrait Amid Career Fallout from Presidential Criticism

Colorado-based artist Sarah A. Boardman is fighting to salvage her 41-year career after her portrait of former President Donald Trump was removed from the state Capitol following his public condemnation of the work.

The painting, commissioned by Colorado Republicans in 2019, had hung alongside other presidential portraits for six years until Trump labeled it “purposefully distorted” and “truly the worst” in a March social media post, prompting its removal.

Boardman’s portrait, funded through a GOP-led GoFundMe campaign that raised over $10,000, was intended to depict Trump in a “serious, non-confrontational” manner, according to her 2019 statements.

The artwork faced immediate scrutiny upon its unveiling, with critics questioning whether its somber expression matched Trump’s public persona.

However, Boardman maintained that her approach aimed for neutrality, using a reference photo approved by a Capitol advisory committee.

In a March 23 Truth Social post, Trump compared the portrait unfavorably to Boardman’s nearby depiction of Barack Obama, which he praised as “wonderful.”

He alleged intentional distortion and quipped that Boardman “must have lost her talent as she got older.” Within 24 hours, Republican leaders, including Colorado Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, demanded the painting’s removal, citing the need for a “contemporary likeness.” The portrait now resides in museum storage.

Boardman denies any distortion or political bias, asserting she fulfilled her contractual obligations “accurately and without caricature.” In a website statement, she revealed that Trump’s remarks have “directly and negatively impacted” her four-decade-old business, which specializes in presidential and military portraits.

She highlighted the work’s initially positive reception, noting it survived previous controversies, including a 2018 prank where a Vladimir Putin portrait was briefly displayed in Trump’s designated space.

The incident underscores the fraught intersection of art and politics. Colorado House Democrats dismissed the portrait debate as a distraction, emphasizing more pressing legislative priorities.

Meanwhile, Boardman’s supporters argue the controversy reflects escalating polarization, where artistic interpretations face heightened partisan scrutiny.

As Republicans consider commissioning a replacement, Boardman’s career hangs in the balance. Known for her portraits of George W. Bush, judges, and service members, she now faces an uncertain future.

“My integrity as an artist is nonnegotiable,” she stated, declining further comment. The episode serves as a cautionary tale about the vulnerabilities of public art in an era of rapid political judgment and social media amplification.