The Liberatum Women in Creativity celebration honoring legendary actress Ellen Burstyn convened leading artists, cultural leaders, female filmmakers and jury members of the 81st Venice Film Festival. 

Under the pink Venetian sky on a late summer evening, creatives descended on the Giudecca Island at the Blue Pavilion by Palazzina Grassi for an inspiring and emotional celebration of 91 year old Ms Burstyn.  Vanity Fair Europe’s Simone Marchetti led a lively and candid conversation with Ellen on her seven decade career.

Canadian actress Taylor Russell, who had worked with Ms Burstyn, presented her with the Liberatum Pioneer Award after a moving speech on how she had been inspired by Ellen personally and by her contribution to cinema. 

I had the honor of being commissioned by Liberatum to create a portrait of Ms Burstyn and present it to her directly. The portrait is styled as my series, A Decorated Woman, where hundreds of photography based digital layers of my personal jewelry are collaged together to create the image. Ms Burstyn and I did not communicate before I created the portrait so I dressed her as I imagined her.  We were both shocked at the similarities in the portrait and her chosen attire for the evening. 

Co-hosted by art collector Aaron Roni Newmark, guests were feted with a look at Mr. Neumark’s First Edition Bomberg complete Hebrew Bible, made in Venice by Daniel Bomberg in 1517-18.  Made of parchment, ink, and leather, 533 leaves,1066 pages, it is the rarest of the Bomberg bibles. 

It was an honor to share a magical evening with so many talented and inspiring creatives and share my art with such a prestigious, talented and welcoming group. Thank you to Liberatum for including me and my art.