Politics usually stays on the floor of the Colorado State Capitol, but in early 2025, the drama climbed three flights of stairs to the presidential gallery. You might've seen the headlines. A painting of Donald Trump—one that had hung peacefully since 2019—suddenly became the center of a national firestorm. It wasn't about policy or legislation. It was about a jawline.
Honestly, the whole situation was a bit of a whirlwind.
For years, visitors walking the third-floor rotunda in Denver passed by a series of uniform, bust-length portraits of every U.S. President. Then, on a Sunday night in March 2025, Donald Trump took to Truth Social. He didn't just dislike the painting. He claimed it was "purposefully distorted" to a level he’d never seen. He even took a swing at the artist, suggesting she’d "lost her talent."
It was a wild accusation for a piece of art that had been vetted and approved years prior.
The Artist Caught in the Crossfire
The woman behind the brush was Sarah Boardman. Based in Colorado Springs, Boardman isn't some political activist with an axe to grind. She’s a professional who spent four years studying "Old Master" techniques in Germany. In fact, she’s the same person who painted the portrait of Barack Obama that hangs in the very same gallery.
Trump actually called the Obama portrait "wonderful" in the same post where he trashed his own.
Boardman was devastated. She eventually broke her silence, stating that the backlash was "directly and negatively impacting" her 41-year business. She’d spent four months on the Trump piece, working from a photograph that was specifically chosen and approved by the Capitol Building Advisory Committee. Her goal, she’d said back in 2019, was to make him look "thoughtful" and "neutral."
Basically, she wanted the art to fade into the historical background over time. Instead, it became a lightning rod.
Why the "Distorted" Claim Didn't Quite Add Up
When Trump claimed the painting was a "radical left" hit job orchestrated by Governor Jared Polis, he missed a few key details:
- The Funding: The state didn't pay for it. Colorado Republicans actually crowdfunded $11,000 for the commission.
- The Oversight: Governor Polis had zero to do with the art. The process is handled by a bipartisan committee.
- The History: The portrait replaced a prank photo of Vladimir Putin that someone had snuck into the frame a year earlier.
The irony is thick. The very group that fought to get his face on the wall—the Colorado GOP—ended up being the ones to request its removal after the President's public outburst.
Out With the Old, In With the "Glimmer"
By Tuesday morning, March 25, 2025, the space between Bill Clinton and George W. Bush was empty.
Tourists didn't stop coming, though. They just started taking selfies with the blank wall and the brass plaque. Some visitors told reporters the original painting looked "a little chubby," while others thought it was perfectly fine.
Politics, right?
The replacement didn't take as long as people expected. By July 1, 2025, a new portrait was unveiled. This one was donated by the White House and painted by Vanessa Horabuena, a Christian worship artist from Arizona. Trump apparently had a very specific request for this one: he wanted a golden border so it would "glimmer" in the rotunda light.
A Tale of Two Likenesses
If you look at the two paintings side-by-side (figuratively, since the first is now in storage), the differences are striking. Boardman’s version was softer, aiming for that "neutral" statesman look. Horabuena’s version—based on his 2025 inaugural likeness—is much more intense. It’s older, sure, but it has that signature "glowering" expression that has become a staple of his modern branding.
It’s less "historical background" and more "current event."
What Happens to the Portraits Now?
Here is the twist nobody saw coming. Just as the drama over the new painting settled down, the Colorado Capitol Building Advisory Committee dropped a bombshell.
They voted to take all the presidential portraits down.
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It’s not a permanent ban on presidents, but rather a temporary shift. To celebrate Colorado’s 150th anniversary of statehood in 2026, the gallery is being replaced with an exhibit featuring the state's own history and lawmakers.
Some see it as a convenient way to exit the "portrait wars." Others see it as a missed opportunity to keep a unique tradition alive. Colorado is one of the few states that maintains a full gallery like this, and the controversy definitely put a spotlight on how much we project our own feelings onto a bit of oil and canvas.
Actionable Insights: Why This Matters for You
If you’re heading to Denver anytime soon, don't expect to see the "distorted" painting. It's currently locked away in a secure storage facility at History Colorado. However, there are still ways to engage with this weird slice of art history:
- Visit the Rotunda: Even without the presidents, the 3rd-floor rotunda is architecturally stunning. The new statehood exhibit provides a much more "local" flavor of Colorado history.
- Support Local Artists: The Sarah Boardman story is a reminder of how quickly a professional reputation can be caught in the gears of a news cycle. You can still view her portfolio online, including the Obama portrait that remains a Capitol staple.
- Understand the Process: If you're ever curious about how public art gets chosen, look into your own state's Building Advisory Committee. These meetings are usually public, and they're where the real decisions—and sometimes the real drama—happen.
Art is rarely just about the subject. In this case, it was about expectation, vanity, and the chaotic intersection of social media and state tradition. Whether you thought the painting was a masterpiece or a "distortion," it certainly proved one thing: in the age of the 24-hour news cycle, even a quiet oil painting can start a riot.
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Next Steps for Your Trip to Denver:
Check the official Colorado State Capitol website for tour hours, as the installation of the 150th Anniversary exhibit may affect access to certain levels of the rotunda through 2026. If you're an art buff, the Denver Art Museum is only a few blocks away and offers a much broader look at Western American portraiture without the political social media commentary.