Elizabeth Peyton Volodymyr Zelenskyy, April 2022, 2022

New York-based artist Elizabeth Peyton created this striking portrait of Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the weeks immediately following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The country’s sixth and current president, Zelenskyy has garnered international admiration for his impassioned leadership during the military conflict. Peyton’s depiction of the politician imbues him with a quiet strength as he rests his head in his hand, his thoughtful expression emphasising his humanity, even as he stands as the symbolic figurehead for Ukrainian independence. The portrait explores the interplay between Zelenskyy’s public and private personas in a manner characteristic of the artist’s approach to depicting well-known subjects.