A Milwaukee-area artist just returned from a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.In partnership with the U.S. State Department’s Art in Embassies program, the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg welcomed portrait artist David Lenz.In his Shorewood studio, Lenz puts paint to the palette, creating the colors that bring his vision to life.”I try to paint portraits that get at who the essence of that person is,” Lenz said.It’s his eye for detail that caught the eye of Milwaukee’s former mayor, Tom Barrett.”There’s been many times when I’ve had to say to individuals, ‘Look, this is a painting. This isn’t a picture. It’s an actual painting.'”Barrett is now the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg. And as such, can have selected artists showcase their work in the U.S. embassy there.”There was one artist in particular that I wanted there,” Barrett said. “I really wanted to see if it’s possible for us to get an art piece from David, whose work I’ve admired literally for decades.”Barrett wanted to feature Lenz’s work, specifically his portrait titled “Sam and the Perfect World.””What did you think when Ambassador Barrett asked you about that?” WISN 12 News’ Joyce Garbaciak asked Lenz.”I was thrilled,” Lenz said. “Because you know, people with disabilities have for so long sort of lived in the shadows of society. And this was a rebuttal to that.”Sam isn’t just any subject.”As a father, what can be better?” Lenz said.Sam – who has Down Syndrome — is Lenz’s son.This portrait won first place in the National Portrait Gallery’s inaugural Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition in 2006 – chosen out of 4,000 paintings to be displayed at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. As the winner of that competition, Lenz then got the opportunity to paint a portrait of a notable American that hangs in the Smithsonian today. It’s a portrait of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics. Lenz says his portrait of Sam resonates because of the subject.”I think a lot of it has to do with Sam,” Lenz said. “And the fact that he is portrayed in a way that’s not typical for people with disabilities. He’s confronting the viewer, almost as if he’s questioning ‘What kind of world have you made for me? For everyone?'”Lenz got to talk about his work last week in Luxembourg.”We did eight events in three days,” Lenz said.He was invited by Ambassador Barrett.”We basically worked him to the bone for three days,” Barrett said.Lenz met with fellow artists, students and dignitaries – carrying the message of ability. His visit coincided with World Down Syndrome Day on March 21.”It’s an amazing thing,” Lenz said. “It felt like a rebuke to all those old ideas about not including people with disabilities.”The portrait on display now at the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg – “Sam and the Perfect World” – is typically housed at the Milwaukee Art Museum and will head back there when Barrett’s time as ambassador is done. Barrett-‘s term is set to expire in January.
A Milwaukee-area artist just returned from a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
In partnership with the U.S. State Department’s Art in Embassies program, the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg welcomed portrait artist David Lenz.
In his Shorewood studio, Lenz puts paint to the palette, creating the colors that bring his vision to life.
“I try to paint portraits that get at who the essence of that person is,” Lenz said.
It’s his eye for detail that caught the eye of Milwaukee’s former mayor, Tom Barrett.
“There’s been many times when I’ve had to say to individuals, ‘Look, this is a painting. This isn’t a picture. It’s an actual painting.'”
Barrett is now the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg. And as such, can have selected artists showcase their work in the U.S. embassy there.
“There was one artist in particular that I wanted there,” Barrett said. “I really wanted to see if it’s possible for us to get an art piece from David, whose work I’ve admired literally for decades.”
Barrett wanted to feature Lenz’s work, specifically his portrait titled “Sam and the Perfect World.”
“What did you think when Ambassador Barrett asked you about that?” WISN 12 News’ Joyce Garbaciak asked Lenz.
“I was thrilled,” Lenz said. “Because you know, people with disabilities have for so long sort of lived in the shadows of society. And this was a rebuttal to that.”
Sam isn’t just any subject.
“As a father, what can be better?” Lenz said.
Sam – who has Down Syndrome — is Lenz’s son.
This portrait won first place in the National Portrait Gallery’s inaugural Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition in 2006 – chosen out of 4,000 paintings to be displayed at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
As the winner of that competition, Lenz then got the opportunity to paint a portrait of a notable American that hangs in the Smithsonian today. It’s a portrait of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics.
Lenz says his portrait of Sam resonates because of the subject.
“I think a lot of it has to do with Sam,” Lenz said. “And the fact that he is portrayed in a way that’s not typical for people with disabilities. He’s confronting the viewer, almost as if he’s questioning ‘What kind of world have you made for me? For everyone?'”
Lenz got to talk about his work last week in Luxembourg.
“We did eight events in three days,” Lenz said.
He was invited by Ambassador Barrett.
“We basically worked him to the bone for three days,” Barrett said.
Lenz met with fellow artists, students and dignitaries – carrying the message of ability. His visit coincided with World Down Syndrome Day on March 21.
“It’s an amazing thing,” Lenz said. “It felt like a rebuke to all those old ideas about not including people with disabilities.”
The portrait on display now at the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg – “Sam and the Perfect World” – is typically housed at the Milwaukee Art Museum and will head back there when Barrett’s time as ambassador is done.
Barrett-‘s term is set to expire in January.
