Staff Reports
A Colorado artist has thrown herself into a defensive tizzy over a portrait of Donald Trump that used to hang in the state Capitol. Sarah Boardman, a painter from Colorado Springs, insists she didn’t intentionally distort Trump’s likeness, even though his keen eye for detail pointed out some interesting artistic “decisions” in her work. One can only imagine how this all went down—seemingly the perfect storm of artistic interpretation and a robust critique from a certain former president.
Trump, in classic fashion, took to his Truth Social platform to express his disdain for the portrait, labeling it “purposefully distorted.” One might wonder how a piece so lacking in resemblance made it into the hallowed halls of political power in the first place. It seems Boardman was given a pass on artistic merit, but her masterpiece drew a line in the sand when it came to Trump, who bluntly stated he would prefer that no portrait grace the Capitol rather than that “thing.” An ominous fate awaited Boardman’s creation as legislative leaders wasted no time in yanking it from its wall after Trump’s critique.
In an email, Boardman insisted she received an “overwhelmingly positive” response over the six years the portrait spent hanging proudly in the Capitol before it was condemned to museum storage. This assertion is intriguing, to say the least; one may wonder how many public comments were sparked after the audience realized that, perhaps, a glorified caricature was on display instead of an actual representation of the former president.
A Colorado artist denies trying to distort Donald Trump's likeness in a portrait that hung until recently in the state Capitol and says the president's criticisms are hurting her business. https://t.co/LGfQBAHLFm
— Washington Times Local (@WashTimesLocal) April 6, 2025
After experiencing what she describes as a “business crisis” post-Trump’s commentary, Boardman claimed that the president’s tweets have adversely affected her reputation and livelihood. She hoisted the banner of artistic integrity, asserting that there was no bias nor caricature in her work, stating firmly that she completed the project per her contract. The question remains, however, why her talent seems to vanish whenever she picks up a brush to portray prominent Republican figures.
Interestingly, Boardman has previously painted portraits of both George W. Bush and Barack Obama. While Trump dubbed Obama’s portrayal “wonderful,” he did not hold back in calling his own likeness “truly the worst,” a clever jab that highlights a compelling thought: Would Trump’s portrait have garnered such ire if it had opted for a flattering angle rather than the comically skewed version that came to represent him?
Colorado Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen has stepped in, advocating for a new portrait that aligns more closely with Trump’s “contemporary likeness.” While the process for commissioning a replacement is yet to kick off, the people might be left to ask: is there any chance that a certain artistic “talent” will return to favor in the eyes of the Trump enthusiasts? With the state Capitol in need of a fresh look, the pressure is on to create something that honors the man without straying too far into creative liberties.
