![Anna May Wong](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/8ee91bf2-d1eb-44f7-8589-551e44dba576_rw_1920.jpg?h=98ed1a757fa25c7ca3b4e7e47e7eb17d)
Anna May Wong
![Wanda Mankiller](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/eb11c98e-1890-49eb-8431-6b6e88eb2830_rw_1920.jpg?h=62f5ed4a6c991f6d8d9df22f44ecc379)
Wanda Mankiller
![Chien-Shiung Wu](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/1823444d-f669-4f9c-9b73-76c1c1b59959_rw_1920.jpg?h=0b837113ac54a32da4418d5c61362492)
Chien-Shiung Wu
![Ellen Ochoa](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/42946fb1-017d-43c9-ad11-ec811a31bf7a_rw_1920.jpg?h=83dcd2271e515cf225b0a06c04d089d2)
Ellen Ochoa
![Hung Liu](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/004c7006-2b44-4376-9145-f99bc0327683_rw_1920.jpg?h=73188ececa6940b128a2282f183b58f2)
Hung Liu
![Simone Veil](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/48b6fb21-a3c4-459c-bf12-bb148c4aa666_rw_1920.jpg?h=80e5388176497fad49a1ba41f0c9c1cd)
Simone Veil
![Selena](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/ebdfa812-6526-4a29-a696-3c74bb760ae3_rw_3840.jpg?h=e9d9d10279cb2632f42fd23c06f6ac61)
Selena
![Junko Tabei](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/205a5385-9bf2-40c3-b7c8-1fa8a46f529a_rw_3840.jpeg?h=45737eb884f85e9bb575cad8de1fe28b)
Junko Tabei
![Barbara Jordan](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/de0846b5-265f-4851-a9f1-34d44db78d4c_rw_1920.jpg?h=76b8b233fc587a6f32ce8cabf8b8135c)
Barbara Jordan
![Barbara McClintock](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/aa0d5e3d-f336-4a96-8e7f-cb8d65a554c5_rw_1920.jpg?h=50b70ea726bf4178c88287e5ac3a3103)
Barbara McClintock
![Elizabeth Blackwell](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/c7a83300-9d1d-4312-8647-7d0567f982ff_rw_1920.jpeg?h=61a359e4334f3c9045f161a67a6c1c3e)
Elizabeth Blackwell
![Emma Watson](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/aa8b08de-0f0e-46be-aba5-c17ae5aa76b5_rw_1920.jpg?h=e26d526b7aa663f968dd884813b847c1)
Emma Watson
![Frida Kahlo](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/b2106dd1-17ce-4a63-bf28-2dbebb9cdd6a_rw_1920.jpg?h=bfb6ef59898cd3e503ae8cf5ceb60aef)
Frida Kahlo
![Florence Nightingale](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/79bc0651-e910-40a9-93e1-4c253de0936e_rw_1920.jpg?h=5b98aba650d4e183663de7d0ef2b4255)
Florence Nightingale
![Gloria Steinem](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/6dc6c2f6-fe0c-4cec-92e1-b7e85a9d6b27_rw_1920.jpeg?h=c6cad6e121ec8798372c39db9d3501cf)
Gloria Steinem
![Harriet Tubman](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/1e447a2f-93aa-43e5-b559-7e2ca85e5531_rw_1920.jpg?h=d89af5fafb6bf602b9f7eee0436954d1)
Harriet Tubman
![Hillary Rodham Clinton](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/1a4a7926-10c5-4a3c-8400-a84d8dec16f7_rw_1920.jpg?h=6ce1cbc35cc36bc6539ebb9164e87a3d)
Hillary Rodham Clinton
![Indira Gandhi](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/810649b1-a796-41dd-a7ea-6e79473558fe_rw_1920.jpg?h=74fb3989c6dc6e0d323107aee7fd75ab)
Indira Gandhi
![Jane Goodall](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/487e1435-ad57-474f-970c-be974155a8b4_rw_1920.jpg?h=ae903556e703cc5cea639bd98ed1bf73)
Jane Goodall
![Julia Child](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/964b4c50-a828-4eb0-a8c7-c6919b97e1f4_rw_1920.jpeg?h=7acdf0481296221555ca1757e893344a)
Julia Child
![Maya Angelou](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/945207e1-f937-47b0-8557-c7422f8795c7_rw_1920.jpeg?h=0a0cac627a6e976f046a33ac6e821b70)
Maya Angelou
![Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/cf47d318-b344-4a36-ba98-97cab45562ad_rw_1920.jpeg?h=c4b3c9c4b6d1c689c6ab417c710e29d2)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
![Lee Krasner](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/68d7d6f4-03c9-48c4-b736-43efc9d974b1_rw_1920.jpg?h=5d2212ddb7fa44f4d5619d68ca930d48)
Lee Krasner
![Lucille Ball](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/5df5d8b2-d122-49fd-b2dd-11e33e18724a_rw_1920.jpg?h=48a1e9b8447d276b07f296120bfbd55c)
Lucille Ball
![Maria Tallchief](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/ceaa8f73-948b-4efc-a57d-d9e1ea1070e9_rw_1920.jpg?h=96d27d4a746bc1d2af7f23dfccba416f)
Maria Tallchief
![Marie Curie](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/519e0bd9-9124-4c50-9bc1-d6a30e6546ce_rw_1920.jpg?h=bd23a8d194bf07c43e77a2f6e5c414b3)
Marie Curie
![Georgia O'Keeffe](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/b6ed495d-5edf-4d67-b736-811103b0b484_rw_1920.jpeg?h=4f81fa2b6c17d856b7e3ae158ea56db5)
Georgia O'Keeffe
![Mary Leakey](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/d34829fd-3155-4a48-8622-55bd8367c0e4_rw_1920.jpg?h=766716d25869c5f2d209521a38b4803d)
Mary Leakey
![Mary Oliver](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/5c16c0cc-9e7f-42b8-b64c-a9305bee9fce_rw_1920.jpeg?h=398ba93dfaeda9a61bc361ac8450b003)
Mary Oliver
![Queen Elizabeth](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/d4e3d48d-b125-4252-9578-9b1ec103d90f_rw_1920.jpg?h=8b4071ceceb700e9828900f0d2f9f0fd)
Queen Elizabeth
![Malala](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/34177ec7-3f92-4680-a456-8d824fc59377_rw_1920.jpg?h=ce2b01d4321197a2f755077903fb8f05)
Malala
![Mother Teresa](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/8f0d17f9-7893-4d69-90cc-eb3bf97f59a2_rw_1920.jpg?h=47e18a54029a3a2876dd0182c6ed1149)
Mother Teresa
![Rosa Parks](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/e82d0ae8-ccab-4d1e-9beb-4f172820abdd_rw_1920.jpeg?h=b3c6823117f56a7ce7d48a842d8d1943)
Rosa Parks
![Rachel Carson](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/63051a97-1fca-4cce-b1a8-851e04eded1d_rw_1920.jpeg?h=4255b2473420f3d62fc3f2cb2aaf0fe9)
Rachel Carson
![Lady Diana](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/835aa67d-c3f6-4215-a4a6-53a73f592ef8_rw_1920.jpg?h=d2a3e7137000a9b59432538ce3059262)
Lady Diana
![Eleanor Roosevelt](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/4f9f7268-9dac-4c8d-89a6-577955f2daaf_rw_1920.jpg?h=bb6ba09f832d4f207bb1b08403351d5d)
Eleanor Roosevelt
![Yoko Ono](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/604af556-81d9-40de-a73d-b35e3badc068_rw_1920.jpg?h=5c18f3c7a2c10f0d0249a03556518c87)
Yoko Ono
![Lady Bird Johnson](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/9728dd37-e958-46d4-802a-f1c78344cc17_rw_1920.jpg?h=c4d4f16b416bd2efce917106aaa27171)
Lady Bird Johnson
![Ann Richards](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/816d8a48-b9d4-4907-8ad0-c9157f6ecee6_rw_1920.jpg?h=78ae04acb8e76730a9ccae858be411e8)
Ann Richards
![Billie Holiday](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/55e2480d-2ce3-4c5d-9f08-2daa3e9563b4_rw_1920.jpg?h=0f4d20cdbbd35926f9cc2e5d2cd60cb8)
Billie Holiday
Oil on canvas, 8 x 10"
Artist's Statement
This journey starts as a benchmark for me to paint 50 women before I turn 50. At the beginning, I wanted to focus on portraits and painted my foremothers. In January 2017, after expanding to a few famous, accomplished women, I gained momentum. I kept painting, researching, absorbing, and reflecting women’s faces onto canvas. I channeled all my energy, my discipline, and my desire to learn, strive, and achieve into the project. I reflected on areas of accomplishment and women from around the world. Fleshing out categories, I met my goal of 50 well before my fiftieth birthday and continued until I surpassed 100 badass women.
These are portraits of women who faced formidable obstacles, challenged the status quo, broke through racial and gender barriers, and made lasting reforms. These women ushered in cultural revolutions, prosperity, and important legislation. These women provided leadership, influenced culture, and made incredible contributions. This body of work commemorates activists, artists, educators, humanitarians, scientists, politicians, actors, athletes, and leaders in an array of fields. All are women who elevate, stimulate, agitate, and inspire!
My artistic process for each portrait was similar. I culled through photos until I found “the one” that captured the subject’s essence and delved into her life. I strived to portray her verve along with her image by employing color, flourish, nuance, and unexpected hues and brushstrokes. I used oil paint on 8 x 10-inch canvases. While painting each woman, I felt a powerful connection to her and her story.
During my journey, I examined my own notions of feminism, female imagery, the meaning of colors, and artistic expression. I envisioned my daughter’s generation getting to know their foremothers. I dreamed of my portraits being catalysts for viewers to acknowledge the badass qualities in those around them and themselves.
My journey has been one of exploration, inspiration, creative expression and collaboration. Here’s to remarkable, badass women! Let the dialogue and tribute continue!
Valerie Guth Boyd, June 2020
![](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/3e9a3f43-3df0-4f34-be0e-50e50eb54a2a/5f75ed8c-f1fe-4116-9ca4-22bec8b92a1f_rw_1920.jpg?h=2c70106b88b489a945946979192a3f55)
To purchase high-quality reproductions of Badass Women portraits inquire below. Different sizes and formats (stretched canvas, di-bond, wood, etc.) are available.
Thank you!