SPOKANE, Wash. — Following a competitive nationwide search by ArtsWA, Washington Governor Jay Inslee and First Spouse Trudi Inslee selected artist Grace Flott to create the governor’s official portrait.
Flott was raised in Spokane and works as a painter and arts educator in Seattle.
According to a press release from the Office of the Governor, Flott seeks to use her art to create a sense of belonging and safety for all people. After a major fire-related injury disrupted her undergraduate studies at the University of Washington, Flott began painting portraits of people with burn injuries.
Flott established connections within the disability community and her past work includes the recent New Icons project which features seven life-size oil portraits of people with burn injuries. Flott also conducts workshops for burn survivors to create art from their scars in addition to teaching classes at local art schools.
"For every portrait I am interested in getting to the heart of that person’s unique story,” Flott said. “I love painting people who are passionate about what they do. What allows me to capture the spark in someone’s eye is taking the time to listen closely and get to know them. It’s an honor to witness the governor’s story and bring to life his tireless belief that we can make the world a better place."
The portrait will be revealed in early January 2025 and will hang in the Office of the Governor alongside other governor portraits.
For more information about Flott and her work, visit her official website.
