The Doyennes are women of excellence, undisputed experts in their fields. They are true influencers who inspire us to push boundaries and elevate our collective awareness. Through these portraits, I aim to pay homage to our foremothers—women who, across generations and centuries, labored tirelessly and at great cost to pave the way for the freedoms we experience today. This artwork carries immense respect for their contributions and sacrifices.
The profiles also draw inspiration from a tradition that emerged in 15th-century Italy, where portraits of young brides in profile became popular with the rise of the merchant class. These commissioned works were designed to convey the bride’s virtues—obedience, devotion, and chastity—while also serving as a display of the wealth and status she exemplified.
By adapting this patriarchal portrait tradition for the Doyennes, I bring to life a dozen remarkable and influential women from modern history. Figures like Gertrude Stein, Virginia Woolf, Anaïs Nin, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Simone de Beauvoir, Yoko Ono, Frida Kahlo, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Meryl Streep, Coco Chanel, and Miuccia Prada reflect the immense strides women have made toward self-determination.
It is my fierce hope that the Doyennes Collection will inspire and encourage women to invest in themselves and others, honoring the legacy of those who came before us while continuing to shape the future.
