While traveling through Europe and studying Art History, I became enthralled with historical portrait paintings. At museums, I found myself merely glancing at the depictions of landscapes and religious and historic events, while being drawn, with laser-like focus, to the portraits of figures in history. I couldn’t get enough of them.

For some time, I had wanted to create a series of paintings related to what I am most passionate about—historical portrait paintings and endangered species. I am passionate about the need to understand and preserve both.

Exploring this need to express what is most meaningful to me through my art, I came up with the idea of re-creating these beautiful historical portraits in my own style by setting within their frames some of the celebrated icons of our time.

The purpose of this series is to share with you these historical portrait paintings, as well as to open a window into the timeless beauty of these masterpieces. The portraits that I created arose from my passion to lose myself in the re-creation of an intriguing and often whimsical fantasy of the relationship between each historical portrait, contemporary icon and endangered species.

I chose contemporary iconic figures, those whom I admire for their uniqueness, their character and who give back because of their love and passion for animals and the earth. I paired each respective icon with an endangered species that I felt was interwoven with their qualities and traits. My goal was to illuminate the value and beauty of each endangered species and each icon; to create a lasting impression that will not be forgotten!

—Katlin Kirker