By paying homage to remarkable female pioneers, I set out to create a series of contemporary portrait paintings inspired by women icons such as, Isabel Allende and Harriet Tubman, highlighting their vocal advocacy of women’s rights. Each portrait is infused with a vibrant traditional color theme including bold strokes of red and delicate touches of gold leaf - representing heroic accomplishment regardless of adversity. As one of many women striving for recognition in the world, it was incredibly significant for me to be able to bring life to these strong figures through this painstaking brushwork, each feature standing tall, aiming to captivate viewers with piercing stares that hold both personal and collective histories.