Mrs. Ban Soon-taek's Portrait, a true honor and a pleasure

 

 

In March, I was invited  to an elegant dinner party in Redding, Ct. During the dinner, I had a conversation with Mieko Ikegame, a retired United Nations official, about the tradition of creating a Official portrait of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

 I was shown a photo of Mrs. Ban Soon-taek, wife of Ban Ki-moon, the  current Secretary-General of the United Nations, and was inspired. I was inspired by Mrs. Ban's grace, serenity and kindness of visage. After researching more about Mrs. Ban, I learned how she has devoted her attention to women's and children's health, including autism, the elimination of violence against women, and the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS.

From that inspiration, I created a 18 x 14 oil on linen portrait.

 

On July 9th, I was able to present the unfinished portrait to Mrs. Ban. It was an great honor to have her visit the Studio to  provide me with the extra details needed to finish the portrait.  

On her visit to The Lobster Pot, Mrs. Ban  was accompanied by the wife of the Korean Ambassador to the United Nations, the wife of the Korean Consular General to the United Nations and the former United Nations official, had brought us together.

Mrs. Ban and I in the studio in front of her unfinished portrait

 

The ladies toured the formal gardens of The Lobster Pot and visited the studio and gallery and saw Mrs. Ban's  unfinished portrait.

 

On August 14th, I was invited to a special luncheon in my honor and Mieko Ikegame's, at Mrs. Ban's residence in New York City. It was one of the most beautiful and heart warming afternoons I have ever experienced. What an honor for me! 

Certainly a day that will stay with me for the rest of my life! 

 

 

Mrs. Ban Soon-taek,   oil on linen, 18 x 14