I had a show in Brussels, at the same time as my fortieth birthday back in 2006, called Heroes, really one of the first shows of the My American Dream body of work. For the show, I wanted to concentrate on the great cultural heroes that inspired me, who created great works but also who as people (or in some cases characters in culture) who lead great lives that inspired others and the world to progress. Audrey Hepburn is obviously one of these heroes—and she was originally from Belgium, fitting for the show. My Fair Lady, although outdated in much of its politics, still is a grand musical, and Audrey Hepburn is a strong female protagonist, who transcends the Pygmalion myth at its core (I was also a big George Bernard Shaw fan in high school). The art director for the film was in part Cecil Beaton, who also designed the dress (and background) of this portrait—and was famously queer/bisexual and helped to shape the look and identity of the Bright Young Things and all the great society of London and America, kings and queens, operas, that helped shape the look of chic in the early part of the twentieth century.

Audrey Hepburn was a great actress, but also an incredible humanitarian. In her roles, in my mind, she always encapsulated feminine power—she couldn’t have been more charming and beautiful, but driving her characters was grit and determination—they usually led the dance of any plot, and her amazing intelligence and whimsy was delicately balanced by her drive and engineering of the worlds in which her characters made. She was in comedies, but also dramas and thrillers and was equally wonderful at everything. Growing up, I idealized her in films, perhaps there is a connection with the feminine powerful and gay men, as much as other types who are models for us.

As a young adult, in contemporary media, I knew her to be an outspoken advocate for UNICEF, working with poor communities with empathy and compassion in Asia, Africa, and South America, and was a statesman for humanity and culture, who I revered.

I also revere my mom—and I grew up with a lovely portrait of her growing up, painted by a famous local New Orleans artist wonderfully, and it was the artwork I believe I looked at and meditated to (with warmth, feeling, and pride) more than any other artwork in our home, as it was installed always across our dining room, for any fancy meal, Christmas, etc., the portrait would keep us fantastic company. This painting of Audrey Hepburn reminds me of that portrait—my own mother is equally as beautiful in every way. This painting has hung across this portrait of my mom, above the fireplace in my parents’ home for years, I’m proud that it’s there, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the painting of my mom!