Shana Wilson. 2018 marked the start of my artistic tribute to inspirational women. The Trail Blazers. The Change Makers. The Life Savers. I have commemorated 25 on canvas with no plans to stop, creating an empowering exhibition of female leadership. Each is a significant undertaking at up to 5ft in height, filling my studio with hope for a better future. As the years pass, my artistic style evolves and is recorded with the stories of these women.

Leadership stems from LOVE, for humankind and Mother Earth, transforming both for better. Leaders are often larger than life, making impactful difference worldwide. Yet a leader also lives within each of us, through everyday loving acts that in aggregate heal massive rifts of inequality and well-being.

These women have made it unlawful to gender discriminate, challenged acceptance for cancer scars, addressed period poverty, and worked tirelessly for the UN. They have been black listed, commandeered the cockpit, lived as a boy to play sports, and furthered anthropology. They have achieved firsts in politics and architecture, built business empires, encouraged mature women in fashion, and advocated for mental wellness while going multi-platinum. They have fought sexual harassment, nursed soldiers to health, broke ground as an openly lesbian musician, and changed a monarchy. They are icons and the women an next door, and all have acted with empathy, courage, and conviction.

Galleries and museums are ripe overrun with imagery of male leaders. I wish to leave a legacy that inspires next generations with portraits of inclusive leadership. Thank you to Serena Ryder, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Gloria Steinem, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Zaha Hadid, Kat Graham, Mary Seacole, Hazel Ying Lee, Carole Pope, Jane Goodall, Golden Drake, Shirley Chisholm, Deb Haaland, Amelia Earhart, Katherine Graham, Marian Moneymaker, Cecily Brown, Diane von Fürstenberg, Amika George, Lady Diana, Maria Toorpakai Wazir, Mei Xu, Anita Hill, and the many more I will paint. Destiny Kirumira. “Human” was inspired by Simone Biles’ decision to withdraw from the team gymnastics competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In an interview with her mother, she commented that although she expected backlash after choosing to take a step back, she marked it was the first time she felt human.

While Biles is a 7-time Olympic medal-winning athlete, at the start and end of each day she is first and foremost a human. As a Black woman, there are many injustices I either feel the need to or am expected to fight against. The moments I feel exhausted, or too tired to fight are often the moments I feel the weakest. However, I am reminded by Simone’s actions and through the actions of many other Black women, that my worth is not tied to my accomplishments or what people expect of me. My worth is inherently rooted in my humanity, which can never be severed from my soul.

I chose to paint Simone in a way that wasn’t hyper-focused on all her accomplishments or her reputation as an Olympic gymnast. In doing so, I hope to celebrate and emphasize how valuable her rest is.

Building a better future means creating a future where Black women don’t have to defend their humanity, but instead are celebrated for cherishing it.