I am fascinating by playing cards because they are universal symbols of both chance and strategy: the hand we are dealt versus how we choose to play it. The queen is often the most versatile and strategically vital piece - in card games, in strategy games like Chess, and in history. In lifting her out of the deck and celebrating her as a vibrant, powerful essence among the collective, I’m looking to celebrate women not just as figures of authority, but as multi-dimensional icons who carry their own territory, culture, and identities - within and beyond themselves.

In this piece, Reine ('Queen' in French), a distinctly Parisian identity is exemplified by the Eiffel Tower, floral sunglasses, and classic beret, with a palette that's both playful and sophisticated. Reine pays homage to a city known for culture, design, elegance, whimsy, and edge, where the Queen is not a political figure, but a personification of timeless, feminine, fierce, indomitable energy.

I painted the majority of this piece live at the 'Springtime in Paris' fundraiser for Morristown Medical Center. It was a high-energy environment, and I think you can see that movement in the brushwork and the vibrant pops of pink, cyan, and iridescent pearl. I’m also thrilled that 20% of the sale goes directly to the Women’s Association of Morristown Medical Center, so the piece will continue to support the critical work of MMC.