The portrait controversy that shook an artist's world: Trump’s critique and its aftermath
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Imagine dedicating decades to perfecting your craft, earning respect, and creating art that is proudly displayed in a prestigious place, only to have your work criticized by one of the most powerful figures in the country.
This is exactly what happened to artist Sarah A. Boardman.
Her portrait of President Donald Trump, which once hung in the Colorado Capitol, became a lightning rod for controversy after the president himself publicly denounced it.
What followed was a whirlwind of criticism, public scrutiny, and even professional setbacks that have put Boardman’s long-standing business at risk.
The Unveiling and Its Aftermath
Boardman, an artist with over four decades of experience, was selected through a nationwide call for artists to create Trump’s portrait after the death of Lawrence Williams, who had painted the portraits of previous presidents in the Colorado Capitol.
Boardman’s work was unveiled in 2019, and it was met with public support and Republican-led efforts.
However, in 2025, Trump’s public comment on his social media platform, Truth Social, sparked controversy.
Trump criticized the portrait, saying it was “distorted” and suggested that even he had never seen such a portrayal of himself.
He called for the painting to be removed from the Capitol, which the Executive Committee of the General Assembly acted upon swiftly.
Also read: Trump teases the possibility of another political decision–"I'm not done yet."
The Impact on Boardman’s Career
Boardman, who said that she had worked to keep her presidential portraits apolitical, was surprised by the criticism.
She defended her work, stating that the portrait was painted without any intentional distortion and that the Colorado State Capitol Advisory Committee had approved her reference photograph and progress throughout the process.
"As a professional artist, I was commissioned by the Colorado State Capitol Advisory Committee in Denver to paint the official portrait of President Trump for the Denver State Capitol Gallery of Presidents," Boardman stated.
"The reference photograph and my ongoing 'works in progress' were consistently approved by the committee throughout the entire process."
"I completed the portrait accurately, without any 'purposeful distortion,' political bias, or any attempt to caricature the subject, either directly or indirectly. I fulfilled the task as outlined in my contract," she said in a statement on Saturday.
"For the six years the portrait was displayed in the Colorado State Capitol Building Rotunda, I received overwhelmingly positive reviews and feedback. However, since President Trump’s comments, the response has shifted dramatically for the worse."
The criticism has had a significant impact on Boardman’s reputation and business.
The allegations of distortion and questions about her talent have affected her career after over 40 years in the art world.
Also read: Trump launches his "Gold Card" with a familiar flair
Defending Artistic Integrity
After the portrait's removal, various figures, including Senator Kevin Grantham, spoke out in support of Boardman.
Sen. Grantham, who helped fundraise for the portrait, shared with The Denver Post that Trump's unexpected disapproval of the painting "caught me a little off guard," recalling that the 2019 unveiling was met with "nothing but smiles, applause, and support for the artist and her work."
Grantham also mentioned to the Post that if a sitting president disapproves of a portrait, “it would be silly to keep it up” out of respect.
However, he defended artist Boardman, stating she was an “accomplished artist whose works would stand the test of time and didn’t deserve some of the vitriol directed at her,” according to the Post.
Both the Colorado House Democrats and Republican Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen also commented on the situation.
A spokesperson for Colorado House Democrats informed USA TODAY that “Republican leadership requested its removal," further stating, "The Speaker and Majority Leader are prioritizing the safety of Coloradans and reducing costs, not focusing on displaying portraits. If the GOP chooses to spend time and resources deciding which Trump portrait should hang in the Capitol, that’s their decision."
Lundeen suggested that the portrait be replaced with one that more accurately reflected Trump’s "contemporary likeness."
Art often evokes strong reactions, and in this case, the intersection of personal expression and political opinions has had a significant impact on Boardman’s career.
It serves as a reminder of how art can be perceived differently by various audiences.
Read next: Trump plans meeting with Putin–A step towards ending the war?
As we reflect on this incident, we invite readers to consider how art can be influenced by public perception and political views. Have you ever seen or experienced the impact of politics on art? How should artists navigate such challenges? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
This is exactly what happened to artist Sarah A. Boardman.
Her portrait of President Donald Trump, which once hung in the Colorado Capitol, became a lightning rod for controversy after the president himself publicly denounced it.
What followed was a whirlwind of criticism, public scrutiny, and even professional setbacks that have put Boardman’s long-standing business at risk.
Sarah A. Boardman’s portrait of Donald Trump, once proudly displayed in the Colorado Capitol, faces controversy after the former president’s public critique. Image Source: Truth Social / @realDonaldTrump.
The Unveiling and Its Aftermath
Boardman, an artist with over four decades of experience, was selected through a nationwide call for artists to create Trump’s portrait after the death of Lawrence Williams, who had painted the portraits of previous presidents in the Colorado Capitol.
Boardman’s work was unveiled in 2019, and it was met with public support and Republican-led efforts.
However, in 2025, Trump’s public comment on his social media platform, Truth Social, sparked controversy.
Trump criticized the portrait, saying it was “distorted” and suggested that even he had never seen such a portrayal of himself.
He called for the painting to be removed from the Capitol, which the Executive Committee of the General Assembly acted upon swiftly.
Also read: Trump teases the possibility of another political decision–"I'm not done yet."
The Impact on Boardman’s Career
Boardman, who said that she had worked to keep her presidential portraits apolitical, was surprised by the criticism.
She defended her work, stating that the portrait was painted without any intentional distortion and that the Colorado State Capitol Advisory Committee had approved her reference photograph and progress throughout the process.
"As a professional artist, I was commissioned by the Colorado State Capitol Advisory Committee in Denver to paint the official portrait of President Trump for the Denver State Capitol Gallery of Presidents," Boardman stated.
"The reference photograph and my ongoing 'works in progress' were consistently approved by the committee throughout the entire process."
"I completed the portrait accurately, without any 'purposeful distortion,' political bias, or any attempt to caricature the subject, either directly or indirectly. I fulfilled the task as outlined in my contract," she said in a statement on Saturday.
"For the six years the portrait was displayed in the Colorado State Capitol Building Rotunda, I received overwhelmingly positive reviews and feedback. However, since President Trump’s comments, the response has shifted dramatically for the worse."
The criticism has had a significant impact on Boardman’s reputation and business.
The allegations of distortion and questions about her talent have affected her career after over 40 years in the art world.
President Trump's comments on the portrait, which led to its removal from the Colorado State Capitol after six years of display. Image Source: Truth Social / @realDonaldTrump
Also read: Trump launches his "Gold Card" with a familiar flair
Defending Artistic Integrity
After the portrait's removal, various figures, including Senator Kevin Grantham, spoke out in support of Boardman.
Sen. Grantham, who helped fundraise for the portrait, shared with The Denver Post that Trump's unexpected disapproval of the painting "caught me a little off guard," recalling that the 2019 unveiling was met with "nothing but smiles, applause, and support for the artist and her work."
Grantham also mentioned to the Post that if a sitting president disapproves of a portrait, “it would be silly to keep it up” out of respect.
However, he defended artist Boardman, stating she was an “accomplished artist whose works would stand the test of time and didn’t deserve some of the vitriol directed at her,” according to the Post.
A closer look at Sarah A. Boardman's portrait of President Trump. Image Source: Truth Social / @realDonaldTrump.
Both the Colorado House Democrats and Republican Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen also commented on the situation.
A spokesperson for Colorado House Democrats informed USA TODAY that “Republican leadership requested its removal," further stating, "The Speaker and Majority Leader are prioritizing the safety of Coloradans and reducing costs, not focusing on displaying portraits. If the GOP chooses to spend time and resources deciding which Trump portrait should hang in the Capitol, that’s their decision."
Lundeen suggested that the portrait be replaced with one that more accurately reflected Trump’s "contemporary likeness."
Art often evokes strong reactions, and in this case, the intersection of personal expression and political opinions has had a significant impact on Boardman’s career.
It serves as a reminder of how art can be perceived differently by various audiences.
Read next: Trump plans meeting with Putin–A step towards ending the war?
As we reflect on this incident, we invite readers to consider how art can be influenced by public perception and political views. Have you ever seen or experienced the impact of politics on art? How should artists navigate such challenges? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
