Accelerate Action: Get involved with IWD 2025 portraits campaign
IWD Portraits is an ongoing campaign to celebrate the strength of women, capturing them visually and creatively for all their qualities.
IWD Portraits is a user-generated campaign that shines a light on artists worldwide, who believe in gender equality in all its forms and create inspiring artwork of the women they admire.
Here's an exciting interview with one of the IWD Portraits artists.
Victoria Smith (pictured above) is a Creative Art Director from New York, specializing in both digital and print. She works in mixed-media using acrylics, Indian ink, spray paint, and anything that gives an interesting texture. She embarked on a deeply emotional creative journey, and has very kindly shared some of her artwork as part of the IWD Portraits campaign that explores and celebrates the strength of women, and applauds women creatives.
Let's find out who Victoria is, the catalyst for her creativity, and why she chose certain subjects for her artwork.
Who you are, what's your backstory, and why are you motivated to paint women?
My name is Victoria Smith, and I'm an artist from East Islip in New York. My love for creating artwork dates back to my childhood, when I first discovered that I had a talent for drawing. A few years ago, the death of my son Matthew thrust me into a world of pain. It was a world I’d never known, a world of grief. Since then, I have used my art to channel my sorrow, and in the process I've found a deep appreciation for the women that I most love and admire in my life. After I undertook a painting of my daughter, Alexa, in late 2023, I realized that I wanted to see more in people, and so I painted all six of my nieces. That was the start of my journey painting portraits of women.
What qualities in women most inspire you?
Women who work hard and have pride in what they do truly inspire me - whether it be a job helping end world hunger, earning educational degrees that can elevate them to a higher standard of living, keeping their spirits up during frightening battles to be cancer-free, or being a working mother raising a family often on their own.
Who are some of the IWD Portraits women you painted and why?
Kim is a young tattoo artist who traveled the world and America before settling in Austin, Texas and becoming a U.S. citizen. Erin is a young cancer survivor. Chloe is a hairstylist who loves making women feel beautiful. Cassie and Laura are two young mothers raising babies. Melissa started a new career in the medical field in her 30's while raising a family. I’ve made portraits of further family members and friends such as Gayle, who even with serious medical issues, still manages to face life with strength and humor. Jean is a dedicated nurse who finds time to help others despite working practically around the clock. I also painted a portrait of Cynthia, a co-worker who is a cancer survivor helping others by speaking about it. I've also painted new friends like Tess, a mural artist from Brooklyn who uses her art to express beauty and controversy.
What do painting and creativity mean to you on a personal and professional level?
I re-discovered art when I lost my son. When my dear sister Anna died unexpectedly, my grief was as if someone poured salt on a fresh wound. I found the only way to deal with these tragedies was through my art. I feel like all of my emotions sit on the brush I use, the pencils I draw with, or the wires I put together. These items serve as a pressure valve releasing my sorrow before it overwhelms me. But this grief also gave me the strength to see the world around me in a different light. I feel my art is just a vehicle to show how beautiful and truly unique women are. I love their stories. I love it when they tell me what they believe in, how their favorite colors make them smile, and what they like to do. And I make sure to include those personal insights in their portraits. I do portraits that give the viewer insight into the strong individuals these women are, not just how they look.
IMAGE: Alexa Smith, daughter of artist Victoria Smith (Supplied)
Share your own IWD Portraits and story
Want to participate in the IWD Portraits campaign?
Shine a light on the strength of women, while collectively elevating a focus on women creatives by sharing your IWD Portrait on social media using the hashtags: #IWD2025 #IWDportraits #AccelerateAction
Selected IWD Portraits social media posts will be shared via re-posting across the IWD feeds.
And if you'd like for your IWD Portaits creation to potentially be featured on the IWD website alongside an interview or Artist Statement, please contact us.
#IWD2025 | #IWDportraits | #AccelerateAction