At the time these paintings were created (2010), Barack Obama was perhaps the most famous person in the world. Sarah Palin, a political rival, was quite famous as well. Delaney wondered how easily they might be recognized, in portrait form, if most of their faces were hidden . The concept of the mask evolved from this question. The mask, painted over the face in an abstract form, inspires curiosity in the viewer. A mask focuses a viewer's attention on the eyes and mouth.