I may be the first.....
First time working on so many details for an amazing project. Here’s a video .
Vital Voices Unveils Portrait of Kamala Harris on Future Headquarters
Women’s Leadership Organization Partnered with Local DC Artist Tronja Anglero
January 19, 2021 – Vital Voices is celebrating women’s leadership and the barriers Vice President Kamala Harris is breaking as the first woman, first Black person and first person of South Asian descent to serve as Vice President.
To mark this historic occasion, Vital Voices partnered with local DC artist and activist Tronja Anglero to create a new portrait honoring Kamala Harris and highlighting the significance of this moment for women and girls in the United States and around the world.
“At Vital Voices, we’ve been supporting and amplifying women leaders for more than two decades - we are deeply aware of the awe inspiring significance of this moment,” said Alyse Nelson, President and CEO of Vital Voices. “Representation matters. The inauguration of Kamala Harris as our nation’s first woman, Vice President ushers in a new era in America, one where women can lead from the highest seat of political power and little girl’s dreams have no limits. She may be the first but she will not be the last.”
“It’s an honor to create this new portrait of Vice President Harris, bringing a jubilant portrayal of strength to the nation’s Capital and paying homage to her heritage and the background that brought her to where she is today,” said artist Tronja Anglero. “There is so much symbolism incorporated into this portrait: from the patterns and textures woven into the background paying tribute to her Jamaican and South Asian heritage, to the powerful white suite she wore as a nod to the original suffragists who fought for women’s right to vote- paving the way for the first woman Vice President -to the American flag pin illustrating commitment to service to the United States, to the way that she’s tilting her head as if she is listening an empathizing - a mark of women’s leadership. I wanted to capture her genuine, engaging smile, showing her looking directly at us ready to take on what’s ahead, as if she’s telling all young girls to be empowered by the possibility of doing what compels them”.
Vital Voices is displaying the portrait on a banner at the future Vital Voices Global Headquarters for Women’s Leadership - 1509 16th Street NW in Downtown DC, looking down Black Lives Matter Plaza toward the White House.
Vital Voices President and CEO Alyse Nelson sat down with Tronja on the Vital Voices Podcast to talk about the symbolism behind the portrait, and what this new representation will mean for women and girls. Listen to their conversation by subscribing to the Vital Voices podcast on all podcast platforms.
To learn more about Vital Voices, please visit www.vitalvoices.org or follow us on social media @VitalVoices.